News April 2012

Monday- April 30th, 2012

NEWS
--The Vision Randall is pleased to announce that the community has been selected for a visit by the Minnesota Design Team which consists of 20 architects, engineers and designers. The MDT will be in Randall on May 31st for a 3 day visit to help the community develop a vision for the future. During their stay the team will get tours of the community, visit Camp Ripley and the surrounding lakes area. At the end of the weekend there will be a community meeting and an ice cream social where they will unveil some of their ideas and designs. The MDT will stay in homes of community members and will get more input during a Community Picnic Dinner and Community Input meeting on Friday, June 1 at 6pm. All Randall community members are invited to the picnic. The ice cream social will take place on Saturday, June 2nd at 6pm. The Vision Randall project is being led by the Randall Area Business Group.

--The Little Falls School Board will hold a special meeting Tuesday at 5:30 at the high school. The one item on the agenda is the presentation and approval of a new superintendent profile.

--The Initiative Foundation, based in Little Falls, in partnership with the Minneapolis-based Valspar Corporation, selected six community and nonprofit organizations to receive more than 400 gallons of free paint and coatings. Now in its 15th year, the “Minnesota Beautiful” program awards were based on community need, public benefit, visual impact and volunteer participation. This year, Oasis Central Minnesota in Little Falls was given exterior paint for the Community Paint-A-Thon for low-income or disabled homeowner-occupied homes. A Place for You in Pine City interior paint walls, ceilings, and basement as well as exterior siding of a transitional homeless shelter. Leader-Poplar Senior Citizens in Staples; given exterior paint for the Leader Community Hall. City of Maple Lake - exterior paint for the baseball park fence, grandstand, concession stand and dugouts. England Prairie Pioneer Club, Browerville; exterior stain and paint for the buildings. Mille Lacs County Agricultural Society, Princeton will get paint for fairgrounds maintenance. Serving central Minnesota’s 14 counties, the Initiative Foundation offers grants, business loans, leadership programs and donor services that enable citizens to build thriving communities and economies.

--An employee from LINDAR Corp. in Baxter was seriously injured Wednesday after getting stuck in a machine. Around 3pm, firefighters responded to the company and found that the employee had been helped out of the machine. The injured employee was taken to the Brainerd hospital for treatment. No other information was released.

--Wright County reported one person died in a 2-vehicle rollover accident Thursday afternoon near St. Michael. Around 3pm, a Mercedes moved from the right lane to the left on Highway 101 clipping a vehicle causing both vehicles rolled into the side ditch. The driver of the Mercedes died in at the scene. 49-year-old Stanislav Tarasov of Otsego died at the scene. The other driver, 50-year-old Brian Stichter of Princeton was treated for minor injuries.

--A Waite Park man was sentenced to 14 years, 4 months in prison for trying to kill his wife during a fight that ended with their son intervening. 44-year-old Joseph Benson pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted murder and admitted in court he tried to kill his wife last August. She suffered a laceration to her throat and injuries to her back, chest and hands. The judge sentenced Benson with the terms of a plea agreement after Benson pleaded guilty to the charge.

--Todd County Sheriff Peter Mikkelson stated that the sheriff’s office received a report of a possible hazing incident at Browerville High School involving a boy’s athletic program. A lengthy thorough investigation is being conducted into the allegations. The allegations involve inappropriate physical contact that could be considered sexual in nature. Through the investigation, it has been determined that there are multiple suspects and multiple victims. A press conference has been scheduled for Tuesday at 1pm at the Main Street Government Center in Long Prairie. No further information will be released until the press conference on Tuesday.

--County Dairy princesses from across Minnesota will gather at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph May 18-20, and at the weekend’s conclusion, 12 of them will become finalists for the 59th Princess Kay of the Milky Way, who will be crowned the night before the Minnesota State Fair in August. The finalists will be named May 20th during a luncheon at the College of St. Benedict. The current Morrison County Dairy Princesses, Cassie Stangl, Ingrid Floersheim, Kylee Hoheisel and Emily Boser who will be at St. Benedict’s that weekend hoping to make it to the final 12 and vie for Princess Kay of Milky Way who is currently Mary Zahurones of Pierz.

--Governor Mark Dayton vetoed the Senate Bill Saturday that would legalize the sale and use of additional kind of fireworks in Minnesota like the same aerial fireworks that are for sale in Wisconsin. Governor Dayton stated that most Minnesotans are responsible enough to ignite and explode those inherently dangerous devices properly and safely. Unfortunately, some are not and because of that safety concern, Dayton vetoed the bill.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
--Brian and Tami Zilka of Randall, girl born April 26th
--Jon and Kerrie Strandberg of Swanville, boy born April 26th

SPORTS
TWINS= Royals beat the Twins Friday 7-6, then the Twins and Royals were postponed due to weather on Saturday, a makeup date has been set for June 30th with a day/night double header. Josh Willingham returned to the lineup Sunday and blasted 3 hits to lift the Twins to a 7-4 win over the Royals to split the shortened series. Twins are on the west coast tonight as they open a series at Anaheim against the Angels. Pregame 8:35pm on Q92 WYRQ.
VL= get Victory League results at fallsradio.com click victory league.

Lunch, happy hour, entertainment and more at West Side Bar

Friday- April 27th, 2012

NEWS
--The state Supreme Court Wednesday ruled that Stearns County cannot file criminal sexual conduct charges against a Little Falls man who had previous charges dismissed when his lawyer pointed out an error in the charge after a jury had been picked. The Supreme Court ruled that protections against double jeopardy prevent Stearns County from recharging 33-year-old Michael Sahr. Sahr had been charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct but the wrong statute was cited in the charge. A Stearns County judge dismissed the case after the defense attorney’s claim of the wrong statute then denied a motion of Stearns County changing the charge to 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct. Stearns County appealed and the state court of appeals directed the District judge to allow a 2nd-degree charge against Sahr. Sahr appealed his case to the State Supreme Court and in a ruling Wednesday, the state’s highest court ruled that the judge’s initial dismissal of the case was equivalent to an “acquittal on the merits” and that recharging Sahr would amount to double jeopardy. The decision reversed a Court of Appeals ruling.

--The Board of Directors of the Morrison County Area Foundation decided to grant awards to six applicants. Grant checks will be distributed to the award recipients at a reception to be held on Wednesday, at the Little Falls Country Club. The following awards were approved: Hands of Hope in the amount of $500 for an awareness project; Horizon Health Inc. in the amount of $1000 for the RSVP Summer Reads project; MN State Veterans Cemetery in the amount of $1000 for the Veterans Educational Historic Project; Morrison County Hoofbeats in the amount of $1000 for gates and panels to be used at the Morrison County Fairgrounds; Oasis/Share A Meal Inc. in the amount of $500 for the development of a resource directory; City of Royalton in the amount of $1000 for the Royalton Splash Pad Project. “The directors of MCAF were pleased to grant awards to organizations in Little Falls, Pierz, Fort Ripley and Royalton,” stated Robin Klosowski, president of MCAF.

--The Little Falls School Board voted unanimously to approve the 2012-13 capital expenditures budget with a cost at $565,970 at their meeting this week. The High School will take up most of the budget for a number of items including microscopes, lab tables, technology equipment, a treadmill and tennis table for the Phy-Ed department, tools for the shop area and other areas of the schools are in need of some items. The 3 public elementary schools will use money to secure their entrances and some miscellaneous items. The school board also set aside over $188,000 for the lease of the Ipad project. The Middle School will use $70,000 to replace many of the lockers. The board also stated that in 2010 the budget was 27% more than this one approved on Monday. The Board also voted to eliminate one teaching assistant position and two paraprofessional positions due to financial limitations, accepted a number of donations and rejoined the Minnesota State High School League for the next school year.

--An Aitkin man was hurt Monday in a motorcycle accident near Merrifield. 49-year-old Terrance Petersen was on Crow Wing County Road 3, just after 4:30pm, when he crashed into a dump truck. Petersen was thrown from the cycle. Petersen was taken to the Brainerd Hospital with non-life threatening injuries and listed Wednesday in good condition. The other driver was not injured.

--Todd County is investigating theft of deer stands and an extension ladder in Kandota Township. Anyone with info should call the sheriff.

--“Ladies Night Out Little Falls Style” was held last night. Congratulations to each of our winners including the grand prize winner Deanna Krinke who won a ring from Melgram Jewelers. Thank you to all who attended and another Ladies Night Out is in the process of being planned around late October this year.

--Ron Kresha announced Thursday he will be seeking the Republican endorsement for Minnesota State Representative House 9B instead of the Senate District 9 open seat. Kresha decided to run for the seat in District 9B because current Representative Mike LeMieur decided not to seek reelection. Kresha is the 2nd person to seek the Republican endorsement after Norm Siekman announced he is vying for the 9B Republican endorsement last week. The endorsement convention for District 9B will be May 5th. The DFL endorsement convention for the newly redistricted Senate District 9 will be Sunday at 2 in Browerville.

--250 Red Bull soldiers of the First Brigade Combat Team are expected in Minnesota today. A bus earlier this morning already dropped off soldiers at the Bloomington and East St. Paul Armories. This afternoon a bus will drop off soldiers at the Anoka Armory at 4:00pm and at the St. Cloud Armory at 4:50pm. A 3rd bus is scheduled to drop off soldiers at 4:00pm today at the Brainerd Armory. This is the 5th wave of soldiers returning from a year long deployment in support of Operation New Dawn.

--Highway construction work is dangerous and the casualty figures prove it. Since 1969, 33 Minnesota Department of Transportation and 15 private sector contractors have been killed while working on Minnesota road projects. Workers now through Monday in different cities will stop for a short time to remember those who have died working on the highways. Mankato held an observance on Thursday. Golden Valley today and Rochester will host one on Monday.

--Minnesota did some drying out this week and as a result, a very high danger has sparked again in northwestern Minnesota. The upper two-thirds of the state remain in burning restrictions. Though central Minnesota is currently at a low to moderate rate for danger, grass fires have sparked again in areas around parks and train tracks.

SPORTS
TWINS= After Thursday off, Twins open their first series with an AL Central team as Kansas City visits Target Field this weekend. Pregame coverage begins at 6:40pm tonight, 11:40am Saturday and 12:40pm Sunday and all the games are live on Q92 WYRQ.
DRAFT= Vikings after a couple of trades ended up with 2 first round picks. At #4 overall the Vikes selected Matt Kalil left tackle from USC. At #29 they picked Safety Harrison Smith from Notre Dame
VL= Fort Ripley at Freeport is the Victory League Game of the Week this Sunday at 1:30 on AM960 KLTF. Roundup Sunday 6:30pm

“Whiskey Tango” tonight, “Bert’s Cousin” Saturday at West Side Bar.

Thursday- April 26th, 2012
NEWS
--The Morrison County Commissioners met on Tuesday morning. During the meeting a proclamation was made making this week National Crime Victims Rights week in Morrison County. Two more proclamations were made making April Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month. Annual reports were given by Helen McClennan for Soil and Water, and by Col. Scott St. Sauver of Camp Ripley on what to expect in the near future at camp. A public hearing was held to update the proposed changes to the unified environmental health ordinance to comply with the law change for swimming pool regulations. Finally, a redistricting public hearing was held. The commissioner districts were voted on and one small change occurred. For the commissioner districts, District 2 was short 90 people according to the 2010 census so the city of Harding has been moved from District 4 to District 2. No other changes.

--The warm weather in March maybe one reason the jobless rate around the region went down last month. Most counties saw a decrease in unemployment in March, Morrison dropping from 9.4% to 9.1%, Todd from 7.9% to 7.7%, Crow Wing down to 9.3% and the city of Brainerd dropped from nearly 15% to 14.2% in March. Aitkin, Cass, Mille Lacs and Wadena County also saw a decrease in the jobless rate. Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne also saw decreases. One reason is that with the warm weather many seasonal jobs started earlier than years past with the lack of snowfall.

--Little Falls Police in the past days, responded to a gas drive-off at 500 West Broadway early Saturday, a report of an assault Saturday on 6th Avenue Northeast, a report of jewelry stolen from a residence Sunday on 11th Street Southeast, fraudulent activity was reported from a resident that someone was using a check card in their name without consent, over $300 was put on the card that the resident said they did not pay for. Police are also investigating reports of property damage at Linden Hill where the front door and a back garage door were damaged and also at Mary of Lourdes Middle School in northwest Little Falls where it was reported the outside area by the school had some damage sustained over the weekend.

--The 28-year-old Brainerd man convicted in the beating death of Chad Campbell in Brainerd back in 2008 has admitted he violated his probation and could face over 8 years in prison for doing so. Bradley Lewis has a probation violation hearing set on July 2nd. Part of the 2009 sentence on 1st-degee manslaughter in 2009, besides 1 year in jail, was 15 years supervised probation and 16 conditions he must follow as part of it. Court records state that Lewis violated the condition of having no possession of alcohol or drugs and failed to remain in contact with his probation officer. He faces up to another 98 months in prison for these violations.

--Cass County reported that an 18-year-old Laporte man and a 19-year-old Walker man face charges of vandalism for spray painting a number of buildings with graffiti in the Hackensack area. The case has been referred to the county attorney’s office for formal charges.

--The next court date has been set for 16-year-old Karsen Bryce King of Ironton in the murder of his father. King is accused of shooting his father multiple times with a shotgun then telling his significant other he was upset with him because he never let him do anything. King was charged with second-degree intentional murder. A review hearing was set by the judge to take place on May 8th.

--The 2nd Annual Day of Caring is next Wednesday. Students from Little Falls Community High School along with other volunteers from across the area will be cleaning up residences in Little Falls and Randall. A reminder to motorists to be mindful and watch for the volunteers who will be out next Wednesday helping clean up yards of those that have signed up for the event.

--The City of St. Cloud is looking for a new police chief. The city posted qualifications for the position at St. Cloud City Hall or at their website. Anyone interested has until May 18th to return the application to City Hall. Dennis Ballantine retired this past January after 10 years as police chief in St. Cloud. Interim Police Chief Richard Wilson has stated he plans on seeking the chief position.

--The State Court of Appeals has upheld the nearly 8-year prison sentence of a Becker man for breaking into a home and stabbing the man inside several times. 21-year-old Ian Herold pleaded guilty to 1st degree assault from the incident in March, 2010. The victim sustained stab wounds to his scalp and a punctured lung and continues to recover. The judge sentenced Herold to 7 years 10 months in prison denying the defense motion of a lesser sentence because of Herold’s serious and persistent mental illness and chemical dependency. The Court of Appeals found no grounds for an appeal in this case.

BIG EVENT
--Today is KFML’s Ladies Night Out. From 12-7pm today stop into participating sponsors and get specially marked brochure marked on the back by each of the sponsors. Then head to Cabin Fever tonight where the prize drawings will be done at 8pm. The grand prize drawing is a $1,150 14 karat gold genuine sapphire and diamond three stone ring from Melgram Jewelers. More information on the sponsors can be found at www.fallsradio.com. You can pick up your brochure at any of the sponsors or here at Little Falls Radio. Any other questions feel free to call 320-632-2992 between 8-5 today.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
--John and Kimberly Barnes of Little Falls, a girl born April 24th
--Jett Schaffer and Jennifer Baum, parents of a girl born April 24th

SPORTS
TWINS= Red Sox beat the Twins 7-6 last night for a 3 game sweep, even though Twins tried to rally in the later innings. Twins (5-14) have a much needed day off today and host KC on Friday.
HS BAB= Upsala/Swanville vs. Osakis today at 5 on Q92 WYRQ.

TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1921= weather broadcasts were heard on radio for the 1st time.
IN 1986= The Chernobyl Atomic Power Plant exploded in the Ukraine
IN 1989= comedy legend and actress Lucille Ball died at age 77.

“Hot Hits” tonight, “Whiskey Tango” Friday at the West Side Bar

Wednesday- April 25th, 2012

NEWS
--The Little Falls Fire Department responded to three incidents recently. On Friday around 2:45pm firefighters responded to the Falls Manufacturing plant, formerly known as the Crestliner building. A cab of a semi that was being worked on caught fire and authorities were able to extinguish the blaze. They also responded around 10:15pm Friday to a fire on a deck at the Peter Dinardorff residence located at 24997 145th Avenue. Only minor damage was done to the deck at the residence in Ripley Township. Finally the Little Falls fire department responded on Sunday around 9:55am to 301 11th Street SE lot #232 for smoke underneath the trailer. Heat tape was believed to start the fire. Only minor damage was sustained. In all three incidents there were no injuries.

--The first name has surfaced for Republican endorsement for the District 9B House Seat following Representative Mike LeMieur’s announcement last week that he will not seek reelection. Norm Siekman grew up in Illinois but has resided in Morrison County for more than 20 years. Siekman serves on a number of committees in the county and says he is running to support business in District 9 and finding ways to continue business growth.

--Crow Wing Sheriff Todd Dahl reports that the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office along with the Griggs County Sheriff’s Office in North Dakota are requesting assistance in the investigation of a New Year’s Eve murder case from Cooperstown, North Dakota. The investigation has indicated that Daniel Wacht, who is charged in the murder of Kurt Johnson, was thought to be driving a 1995 red GMC Safari Van in the Crosby area within days of the incident, Griggs County stated that he was spotted in the area on January 4th. The remains of the victim have yet to be found and investigators believe the suspect may have disposed of the victim’s remains while heading to or upon arrival in the Crosby area. The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office assisted by Central Lakes Search & Rescue have been searching the Crosby, Ironton, Cuyuna and Tromald areas for the remains of murder victim, Kurt Johnson. K9’s and their handlers have been used. No remains of the victim have been found at this time; however searches will continue. Wacht will have his next court hearing on May 27th. Anyone with information regarding the case should contact the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office at 218-829-4749.

--After spending time in Afghanistan, Minnesota Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann says it's premature to commit to a prescribed end to the U.S. combat role there or a longer-term troop presence. Bachmann says her up-close look and her conversations with key figures in the region underscore a "very fluid" situation. Bachmann says after investing a decade there, the U.S. shouldn't walk away prematurely or stay longer than it needs. She says Afghan forces need to be ready to take over and sustain gains, but she's not convinced they are yet. Congresswoman Bachmann was in the Middle East as part of a congressional delegation.

--On Monday, the Minnesota Senate passed a bill with bipartisan support in an effort to protect women from the risk of death or serious complications resulting from administration of abortion-inducing drugs. The bill, chief authored by District 12 Senator Paul Gazelka of Brainerd, requires a physician to be physically present when any drug or chemical is used by a patient for the purpose of inducing abortion. Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life has supported this measure. The bill still has to be voted by the House.

--A reminder to residents in Pierz that the Mock Car Crash at the Pierz High School will be this morning. Sirens, lights and emergency vehicles can be heard and seen around the high school. Not to be alarmed again this is only a mock car crash organized by SADD.

--Motorists should plan for minor traffic delays and shoulder closures at rural highway intersections in nine central Minnesota counties including Morrison, beginning Monday, April 30th as crews install overhead lighting. All intersections are scheduled to be complete by June 22nd, weather permitting. Design Electric Inc. is the prime contractor for the $180,000 project, which includes 16 intersections. In Morrison County, Highway 27 and Highway 28 west of Little Falls and Highway 27 and 25 south of Pierz. In Todd County, Highway 71 and 27 in Long Prairie. Other intersections will include Highway 71 and Highway 28 in Stearns County, Highway 6 and Highway 18 in Crow Wing County and Highway 47 and 18 in Mille Lacs County. There are also a number of highway intersections in Cass, Aitkin, Kanabec and Pine counties on their schedule too. Lighting rural intersections at night improves safety by helping motorists see they are approaching an intersection, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. MnDOT urges motorists to always drive with caution, slow down in work zones and never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones. For statewide travel information, visit www.511mn.org, call 5-1-1 or log on to www.mndot.gov.

--The Minnesota House has followed the Senate’s lead and passed a bill to legalize fireworks in Minnesota similar to those allowed in Wisconsin. The bill still has to get the Governor’s approval.

--Fish and Wildlife experts are trying to find new ways to keep Asian carp from migrating from the Mississippi River into the Great Lakes. The Army Corps of Engineers has been looking at how to keep the bodies of water separated and there’s been discussion of over-fishing, water guns, ultra-violet light and adding native predators to eat the invasive species. Among the latest ideas, freezing and drying parts of the waterways and even zapping invasive species with carbon dioxide pellets. The Army Corps of Engineers will now review all the ideas and decide which ones should be considered further.

SPORTS
TWINS= Boston rocked the Twins last night 11-2. Twins and Boston wrap up series tonight, with pregame at 6:40pm on Q92 WYRQ.

TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1859= engineers break ground on the Suez Canal.
IN 1939= Batman made his debut in DC comic books. DC thought that Batman was a complete opposite to Superman and even thought of having Batman has a villain to fight Superman but it was nixed.
IN 2007= Monster Mash singer Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett died at age 67.

“Hot Hits” tonight and Thursday, meat raffle Friday at West Side Bar

Tuesday- April 24th, 2012
NEWS
--Camp Ripley announced Friday that their environmental team has been selected for the 2011 Environmental Security Award. The first place honor will be presented to the National Guard on May 1st in Atlanta, Georgia. The award recognizes recipients for efforts to protect human health and the environment by achieving full and sustained compliance with all applicable environmental requirements. The Camp conducted their special Earth Day celebration for members of the media to view the 53,000 acre military base and many even got a ride on one of the Blackhawk helicopters currently at Camp Ripley. Camp Ripley was given credit for their tree nursery and a beautification project to clean up DeParcq Woods as a large recreational area and camping area. Other items included, “Project Firewood” to give firewood to families of deployed soldiers and showing care to animals for rehabilitating a Northern Saw Whet Owl who had suffered an injury to his wing this past year.

--A person of interest by police in the death of a Douglas County woman last week was found dead in a rural Osakis residence Friday. Authorities were searching for 51-year-old David Everett who was an acquaintance of 38-year-old Sharon Love who was found dead in her apartment Thursday in Douglas County. Everett was last seen Wednesday night leaving Love’s apartment. A tip from the public led authorities to a storage unit in Osakis where they found Everett’s body inside a vehicle that was owned by Love and that reportedly Everett was driving the vehicle after leaving Love’s place last week.

--A 25-year-old Isle woman was injured Saturday night west of Malmo in Aitkin County. Lisa Jackson was west on Highway 18 when she ran off the road around 9pm and the vehicle rolled. Jackson was taken to the Aitkin Hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. The State Patrol reports that alcohol is suspected to be a factor in the crash.

--Central Minnesota farmers are ahead of schedule thanks to the warm March and wet April. Benton County farms are reporting that many farmers around Rice and Sauk Rapids have seen the earliest planting season in over 40 years for wheat, oats and alfalfa. They are also hoping that the conditions continue for an early corn planting season. Last year many farmers saw less corn harvested per acre due to the very wet spring, then cooler than average late summer.

--Authorities are investigating a fire that killed a 4-year-old boy in the northwestern Minnesota town of Stephen. The Marshall County Sheriff stated that two children had been injured and a 3rd was possibly still in the house when crews arrived around 10:15pm Friday. The boy’s body was not found until Saturday afternoon in the remains of the home. The two other children were taken to a hospital in Grand Forks, North Dakota. There was no word on their conditions.

--Three people were injured from a head-on crash Saturday near Scandia. According to the State Patrol one vehicle crossed the center line around 9:15pm on Highway 95 and 197th Street. 47-year-old Mark Schroer and his passenger, 39-year-old Angela Schroer both from Scandia were taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul with serious injuries. The other driver, 35-year-old Matthew Scott of Cushing, Wisconsin was treated and released at a St. Paul hospital. The State Patrol is still investigating the accident.

--The DFL Endorsing Convention will be Sunday at 2pm at the Browerville Community Center for newly redistricted Senate District 9. Former Representative Al Doty is vying for the endorsement Sunday.

--A Milaca man has pleaded guilty to distributing images and video containing child pornography. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kenneth John Gastecki pleaded to one count of distribution of child pornography in federal court after being indicted last November where child pornography was found at his residence and on his laptop. A sentencing date has yet to be set.

--A 27-year-old Little Falls man was convicted in District Court on one count of felony malicious punishment of a child. Brandon Shellito was convicted of kicking a 3-year-old child while Shellito was at his mother’s home in September, 2011. The child sustained a broken collar bone. After first denying he struck the child, Shellito later informed police that he did kick the child so it would stop bothering him. Shellito had a prior conviction on the same charge from March of 2011 in Morrison County. Shellito was sentenced to 15 months in the St. Cloud Correctional Facility which was stayed for 5 years. Also an additional 108 days in jail and 5 years supervised probation.

--Authorities are investigating a fire at Knife River Concrete Company that broke out around 4am Monday in Albertville. Wright and Hennepin County authorities and a number of fire departments were called to the facility. When they arrived the roof had already collapsed from the flames and the cement plant was ruled a total loss. Knife River spokesman Jerry Lang says a plant manager was able to move a number of ready-mix trucks away from the plant so they wouldn't burn. Lang estimates damage at $800,000. No one was at the plant at the time of the fire. The cause is under investigation.

--Carrie Resch wanted to remind late filers who missed the Tax Deadline last week that penalties kick in immediately but there are some circumstances where late fees may be eased. Resch says it’s possible to get penalties reduced if you can establish a reasonable cause for your late filing. Resch says if you owe money but missed the deadline, you should file your return quickly. That way you will pay less penalties and interest. Resch said E-Filing is the best option.

SPORTS
TWINS= Cody Ross homered twice for Boston, including the game winner in the 9th inning for Boston to win 6-5 over Minnesota. Twins and Boston play game 2 tonight 6:40 pregame on Q92 WYRQ.

TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1704= the first reported Newspaper in the colonies went on sale in Boston, Massachusetts, it was called the News Letter.
IN 1885= markswoman Annie Oakley hired by the Buffalo Bill Show.
IN 1934= Lauren Hammonds demonstrated the 1st pipeless organ
IN 1953= Winston Churchill knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
IN 1974= comedian Bud Abbott died at age 78. He and Lou Costello became one of the most famous comedy duos of all time.

“Hot Hits” Wed and Thurs. “Whiskey Tango” Friday at West Side Bar

Monday- April 23rd, 2012

NEWS
--Morrison County deputies responded to 4 fire calls since a week ago Friday. On Wednesday they extinguished a Bobcat on fire on Highway 64 near Motley and an unattended campfire at Belle Prairie Park. Back on April 13th, deputies had to close the highway around 4am on Quest Road near Pierz to aid in a good size grass fire, then around 9am deputies assisted in putting out a swamp fire in Hillman.

--A 42-year-old Osseo man was injured Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash in Morrison County. Around 6pm, deputies responded to Highway 10 and County Road 14 near Randall. David Simonson and 20-year-old Harley Figgins of Grand Rapids had collided at the intersection. Simonson was treated and released at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls while Figgins was not injured in the accident.

--Over a dozen Brainerd firefighters battled a farm equipment shed fire Thursday. The fire was reported around 4:30pm at the Joe Hynes property at 11044 70th Street about 10 miles southeast of Brainerd. Firefighters had 3 tankers on the scene but still had to get water from the Brainerd Industrial Park site. Firefighters were on the scene for over 4 hours and the shed was completely destroyed. The cause of the fire is still under investigation and there were no injuries.

--The Little Falls School Board meets tonight at 5:30pm at the Morrison County Government Center. Agenda items include a number of donations, approval of the capital expenditures budget, budget reductions for the next school year, elimination of one teaching assistant position and two paraprofessional positions, approval of membership to the Minnesota State High School League and discussion on the third quarter budget report.

--Minnesota political analysts are calling the 8th Congressional District race in the U.S. House this November one of the highly watched and contested races around the nation this year. Reasons for this include that 2 years ago a virtual newcomer to the political environment Congressman Chip Cravaack defeated longtime Congressman Jim Oberstar. This year 3 candidates have come forward to vie for the DFL endorsement to face Republican Cravaack in the November election. Rick Nolan, a Brainerd native and current Crosby resident is likely to be endorsed since he is the only candidate who has pledged to abide by the endorsement. Stiff challenges are expected from former State Senator Tarryl Clark and Duluth City Councilman Jeff Anderson at the May 5th endorsing convention in Duluth. After the redistricting of Congressional Seats in the state in August, the 8th District will still include Morrison and Crow Wing County, then going northeast into the Duluth and Iron Range areas of the state.

--The jury trial for the 24-year-old accused of robbing a Staples Self Serve convenience store on January 25th has had his trial rescheduled in Wadena County. The judge has set new a trial date for Joshua McKenna for May 30th with a jury roll call date of May 4th. No reason was given for the change of date. McKenna is charged with first-degree aggravated robbery for the entering the store in Staples brandishing a handgun and leaving with an undisclosed amount of money. McKenna was found in the Crookston area a week later.

--The Pierz City Council meets tonight 7pm at Pierz City Hall. Agenda items include an F&M Bank sign update, East Side Oil on an oil recycling center, carpet bids for City Hall, the possibility of closing City Hall on Fridays, purchase of a vehicle for the golf course, a change for a council meeting date due to Memorial Day and a reminder of a Board of Equalization meeting on April 26th.

--More soldiers returning from Operation New Dawn in the Middle East returned Sunday and another wave returns home today. Soldiers returned to St. Cloud and Brainerd Sunday afternoon after a year of deployment to greet family members. Other buses of soldiers went to Sauk Centre, Pine City, Cloquet and Duluth and another bus went to St. Paul and Bloomington. Today buses are planned to arrive at the Knute Nelson Ballpark in Alexandria around 1pm. There is also a large welcome home at the Aldrich Arena in Maplewood at 11:40am. The National Guard stated that more soldiers are still expected back in Minnesota before the end of the month.

--Dairy producer board members of Midwest Dairy Association have elected officers at the corporate level and in the organization’s eight divisions. In the Minnesota Division elected as Chairman was Ken Herbranson of Clitherall; Vice Chairman, Dan Grunhovd of Gary; Secretary was Suzanne Vold of Glenwood; and Treasurer, Ron Rinkel of Hillman. The Minnesota Dairy Promotion Council, a quasi-governmental group with the same board members, elected the following: Chairman –Kathleen Skiba from North Branch; Vice Chairman – Charles Krause of Buffalo; Secretary is Judy Hoffman of Waseca and Treasurer, Christine Sukalski of LeRoy. The board named their Executive member at-large as Ron Rinkel of Hillman.

--The Morrsion County Commissioners will meet at 9:00am on Tuesday, April 24th at the Morrison County Government Center.

--The Minnesota State Patrol announced that it has disbanded its motorcycle patrol program and will auction the unit’s five Harley Davidson motorcycles. The motorcycle unit was revived in 2007 with five troopers after a nearly 60 year hiatus. Between 1930 and 1949, as many as 80 motorcycles were in use by the State Patrol.

SPORTS
TWINS= Josh Willingham’s bases loaded double lifted the Twins to a 5-4 win Friday over Tampa Bay. Rays win Saturday 4-1 and win Sunday 6-2 over Twins. Boston visits the Twins tonight to open a 3 game series, pregame at 6:40pm on Q92 WYRQ.
VL= for to victoryleague.org for weekend scores and highlights.

TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1900= the word hill-billie was first used in an article of the New York Journal, describing a free, untrammeled white citizen who lives in the hill in the southern United States. Later named hillbilly
IN 1951= the Associated Press began sending out news feeds by the teletype setter circuit helping the process of getting the news out.
IN 1954= Hank Aaron hit homerun #1 of his career for the Milwaukee Braves. He would go on to hit another 754.

Need a great lunch? Why not a great lunch today at West Side Bar

Friday- April 20th, 2012
NEWS
--On Wednesday night around 7:00pm a female adult jumped from a moving vehicle on the 400 block of 1st Avenue southeast in Little Falls. She was unconscious when police arrived and taken by ambulance to St. Gabriel’s hospital for treatment of injuries. The investigation is ongoing. No other information was released.

--The Brainerd man convicted in the death of Chad Campbell back in 2008 may be looking at prison time again for a probation violation. 28-year-old Bradley Lewis pleaded guilty to 1st degree manslaughter in 2009 for a fight with Campbell, striking him in the head and rendering him unconscious. Campbell died 5 days later. Lewis’s sentence included 15-years supervised probation with over a dozen conditions that he was told to follow. Crow Wing County Attorney Don Ryan stated that Lewis allegedly has violated conditions of his probation and a 98 month prison sentence should be enforced. A hearing for Lewis is Monday in Brainerd.

--Firefighters found 166 pot plants during a fire call Monday in Collegeville. Firefighters were called to a laundry room fire that morning on College Drive South. Firefighters checked the building and found the plants in one of the apartments. They contacted the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force who is investigating the operation where drugs were found throughout the apartment. There was no report if any arrests have been made in the case.

--Governor Mark Dayton Wednesday signed a law making caregivers subject to felony charges for the most serious cases of vulnerable adult neglect. St. Cloud Representative Steve Gottwalt was one of the bills sponsors working to create this law. The felony classification will apply to caregivers and operators who intentionally deprive a vulnerable adult the basic necessities or supervision they need.

--Construction season is already here. Roadwork began last week on Highway 10 from Minnesota Highway 24 in Clearwater to Minnesota Highway 25 in Big Lake, the project should be completed by August. Construction begins on South Benton Drive in Sauk Rapids Monday; detours will be posted around the work areas. Road work continues in portions of Morrison County off and on with larger projects on Highway 115 in July and Highway 10, 27, 371 and 238 in August.

--Officials at the Minnesota Health Department say drug thefts surged 325% from 2006 to 2010 at hospitals and health-care facilities throughout the state. The report tracks incidents of health care workers stealing pain killers from patients. A major cause seems to be the availability of prescription drugs in recent years. A plan is in place for law enforcement to identity ways to improve security for handling drugs and patient facility where the drugs are used.

--St. Cloud State Aviation Ambassadors are putting on an Airport Day on Saturday from 9am to 2pm at the St. Cloud Regional Airport. A limited number of free airplane rides will be offered to ages 8-17. Boy Scouts can receive their aviation merit badges for attending this.

--Staff from the office of Congressman Chip Cravaack will be in Little Falls next Friday, April 27th, from 10 to 11:30am at Nouis Home Care, the former Pine Edge Inn building, in downtown Little Falls. Anyone with questions or concerns for the Congressman should address them to his staff at the mobile office on the 27th.

--It’s the final day of Severe Weather Awareness Week. Today focuses on Heat waves and issues related from very hot conditions.

--KFML’s Ladies Night Out is next Thursday, 12-7pm stop into participating sponsors, drawings starts at 8pm at Cabin Fever.

--District 12B Representative Mike LeMieur of Little Falls announced on Thursday that he will not seek re-election in the House of Representatives in November. He cited family reasons as the main consideration for his decision. LeMieur stated it has been a great honor and privilege to represent the people of Little Falls, Morrison and Crow Wing Counties in the Minnesota Legislature.

--The Randall city council met on Wednesday. At the meeting the city renewed their contract with Long Prairie Sanitary Service for the refuse and recycling contract which was set to expire in August. The new contract will last 5 years with a 3% rate increase each year. Another public meeting for the early warning siren system is being planned at 8:45am on May 3rd at the Fire Hall meeting room. The council agreed to purchase a new locater for locating the underground utility lines because the current one is getting old and not working like it should. The cost for the locater is not to exceed $4,000. The council also wanted to clarify that the city increased its 2012 tax levy by 8%, not 20% as some people have been told.

--Two people have died in a motorcycle accident Wednesday in Sherburne County. Sheriff Joel Brott stated that deputies were called around 2:45pm to Big Lake Township and found the cycle in the ditch. 31-year-old Brent Wickham of Big Lake was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger 26-year-old Jacquelyn Lee of Ramsey died while being airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center. The accident happened just off of Highway 10 on Sherburne County Road 17. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

SPORTS
TWINS= The Twins fell last night to the Yankees 7-6. In the game Curtis Granderson hit three homeruns to lead the Yankees to a one run win over the Twins. Ryan Doumit hit a 2-run home run for the Twins but it was not enough as Minnesota and New York split their 4-game series. The Twins open a weekend series with the Rays tonight in Tampa. Pregame coverage begins at 5:40 tonight and Saturday and at 12:10pm Sunday on Q92 WYRQ.
VL= first Victory League Game of the Week is Sunday at 1:30 as Avon takes on St. Wendel. Catch the action live on AM960 KLTF.

TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1931= football great-Knute Rockne died in a plane crash.
IN 1935= “Your Hit Parade” debuted on radio.
IN 1961= The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the licensing of FM Radio Stations to attract a new type of listeners.
IN 1982= “I Love Rock and Roll” by Joan Jett hit #1 on the charts.
IN 1987= rolling skating musical “Starlight Express” Broadway debut.

“Kings Ransom” tonight, “Chaser” Saturday at West Side Bar

Thursday- April 19th, 2012

NEWS
--Severe Weather Awareness Week continues. Yesterday the focus was on floods and today it is tornadoes. Already the state has seen 3 tornado touchdowns from last Sunday. There will be two scheduled tornado drills today the first is at 1:45pm, this is for mainly businesses and schools to work on practices to take when a tornado warning is issued. The second will be at 6:55pm tonight. This is for mainly families to work out a plan of attack when a tornado is heading near their home. The 2nd drill also helps businesses that have 2nd shift workers. Friday will focus on heat related issues.

--The 19th Annual Morrison County Sheriff’s Department Sandbox Fill will be held on Thursday, May 3rd. Anyone within a three mile radius of bank square in downtown Little Falls may have their sandbox filled. Donations can be given at the time of the sandbox fill or left by the sandbox if you are not home. To place your name on the list, call 632-2673 on Tuesday April 24th, Wednesday April 25th or Tuesday May 1st between 8:30 and noon. Or you can also call 320-632-0199 and leave you name. address, phone number and where the sandbox is located on the answering machine at that number.

--The city of Flensburg will hold a clean-up day for residents living within the city limits this Saturday at the Fire Hall in Flensburg. If you have questions contact Margurite at 547-2406.

--The Benton County Board of Commissioners Tuesday in Foley announced they have hired a new director to head its development department. The county board voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Joseph Janish, a senior planner with the city of Jordan to the position. Janish will start May 14.

--A new map of commissioner districts approved Tuesday will mean four of five Benton County commissioners will face a re-election bid this fall. The county board unanimously voted to approve the plan, which adjusts the commissioner district boundaries based on population numbers from the 2010 census. The new map reflects growth in the city of Sauk Rapids during the last decade compared with the relatively stable population of eastern Benton County. Counties are required to approve redistricting plans by May 1st. District 4 will see the most changes adding all of Sauk Rapids Township plus the city of Sauk Rapids out of District 2 and losing one precinct in St. Cloud. District 2 will now cover the area south of Royalton into Rice and also Watab, Langola and Mayhew Lake Townships and will not cover areas north and west of Sauk Rapids anymore. District 2 is represented by Commissioner Joe Wollak , who reportedly is the only commissioner not needing to run this November. Two Commissioners are up for reelection and the 2 others will have to rerun due to redistricting numbers.

--A 36-year-old man was injured Tuesday night when his vehicle crashed into 3 parked vehicles on 2nd Street North in St. Cloud. Police stated that speed played a factor in the crash. Firefighters had to extricate the man who was pinned inside his vehicle. Michael Carter was taken to St. Cloud Hospital and listed in stable condition.

--Minnesota Senators approved a bill 41-22 Tuesday to make aerial fireworks legal in the state. The bill is awaiting a vote still in House.

--Check out a number of events this weekend at www.fallsradio.com then community calendar including the Little Falls Lions Ribfest on Saturday starting at 4pm at the Little Falls Golf Course. It was announced earlier this month that the event would benefit the Little Falls Community High School Key Club for their upcoming projects.

--A reminder that next Wednesday, April 25th, there will be a mock car crash at Pierz Healy High School. The crash is a drill for several local emergency medical services to show the dangers of drinking and driving during prom and graduation for high school students. All 9th through 12th graders in Pierz will attend the program which is organized by SADD. A reminder to residents that sirens, lights and helicopters will be used and seen around the high school during the mock car crash which again is next Wednesday morning in Pierz.

--On Tuesday Evelyn Dowd of Circle Pines reported that her cabin on Lake Osakis had been broken into sometime over the winter. Several items were stolen from the cabin. Any info on this, call police.

--Benton County Deputies along with Sauk Rapids and Rice police departments are participating in the DEA National Take Back Initiative. This program allows citizens to turn in unused or unwanted prescription medications so they will not fall into the hands of someone who may abuse the medications and that the medications will be disposed in an environmentally friendly manner. Collection points on April 28th from 10am to 2pm will be the Benton County Sheriff’s Office in Foley, Sauk Rapids Police Department and Rice City Hall. More information can be obtained at the DEA website. Little Falls Police also have a drop off site weekdays from 8am to 4:30pm at the Little Falls Police Department lobby where anyone can turned in unused or unwanted meds no questions asked.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Legendary host Dick Clark died Wednesday at the age of 82. Clark hosted American Bandstand for over 30 years and for nearly 40 years hosted New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in Time Square in New York.

DEATH NOTICES
--Leonard Knopik, age 83 of Brainerd.
--Jeremy R. Gadacz, age 34 of Morrill.

WEATHER
TODAY= occasional sprinkles, mostly cloudy high of 49
TONIGHT= cloudy, low of 32
FRIDAY= mostly sunny, high near 53, low of 35
SATURDAY= chance of rain, high of 53, low of 36
SUNDAY= sunny high of 58, partly cloudy low of 37

SPORTS
TWINS= Justin Morneau homered twice Wednesday as the Twins managed to hold on and beat the Yankees 6-5. Twins wrap up series with New York Yankees tonight at 5:35pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BAB= St. Cloud Cathedral at Little Falls today at 5 on AM960.

TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1897= first running of the Boston Marathon took part.
IN 1951= General Douglas MacArthur gave Old Soldiers speech.
IN 1993= The Branch-Davidian’s compound in Waco, Texas burned to the ground. It was the anticlimax of a 51-day standoff between the religious cult led by David Koresh and U.S. federal agents.
IN 1995= The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was destroyed by a bomb. Timothy McVeigh was charged with terroristic murder. 168 people including 19 children died in the blast.

“Hot Hits” tonight, “Kings Ransom” and meat raffle Fri at WS Bar.

Wednesday- April 18th, 2012
NEWS
--43 year old Nancy Leona Meyer was charged in Morrison County District Court for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for allegedly trying to hire a hit man to kill her ex-husband. According to court documents, a concerned citizen went to the sheriff’s office with her attorney and informed an investigator that she began receiving text messages from Meyer inquiring if the woman would assist her in killing her ex-husband. One of the text messages states “I have a new knife and you should not tell anyone…followed by “you please help me kill him please”. The investigator recorded a conversation with the citizen and Meyer, during the conversation Meyer stated she did not want her kids involved and could start at $200 at which time the investigator informed Meyer she was under arrest and was taken into custody a short time later at her place of employment. Meyer faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. There was no word on when her next court hearing would be.

--The Sons of the American Legion Squadron #46 put 100 flags up around the Little Falls Area on Tuesday morning. They decided to put them up earlier this year to help welcome home many of the soldiers returning to the area after completing the largest Minnesota deployment since World War II. The flags will remain up until Patriot Day on September 11th. Weather permitting they will then be put up again on Veterans Day in November.

--Another stage of the sign ordinance issue in Little Falls has been completed. Monday night the planning commission passed a motion to send the amended draft #8 to The League of Minnesota Cities for review. In the future a public hearing will be held though no date has been set. The issue will ultimately be decided by a vote from the Little Falls City Council. Also at Monday’s council meeting the city received a plaque from MN rural water awarding Little Falls the best tasting water in the conference. The Little Falls Police Department and Col. St. Sauver from Camp Ripley also had presentations promoting the previous work with the council to improve the Little Falls Community. Joshua Andrea was also sworn in as a new police officer for the Little Falls Police Department.

--The quarterly Pierz council work session was held Monday night. Several items were reviewed including a sign issue in town, flooring bids for city hall, a discussion about closing City Hall on Fridays as a cost savings method, and the city reviewed the audit. Nothing is voted on during a work session so many of these matters including the hours of City Hall will be brought up at next Monday’s City Council meeting in Pierz.

--Over the past days, Little Falls Police received a report of a theft of an above ground fire pit with a leaf design from the 1200 block of 8th Street Northeast, a fire reported on a pole on Hilton Road and damage to mailboxes on West River Road.

--An April snowstorm Sunday night into Monday raised havoc for some portions of the state where accumulations of 4 to 11 inches were reported. Brainerd had over 2 inches of snow that caused firefighters to be called out to clean stoplights as the snow and wind caused the lights to be blocked from motorists on Highway 371. There were reports of over 6 inches north of Pillager through Cass County, and over 10 inches from Grand Rapids northeast into Chisholm and parts of the arrowhead region of the state. The heavy wet snow took down trees and knocked out power of many regions of central Minnesota and caused a number of accidents on roadways.

--The second wave of 1st Brigade Combat Team soldiers are scheduled to arrive this morning. The Red Bull soldiers have been deployed since early last year to Kuwait and have been in Mississippi since last week for demobilization. One of the buses of soldiers will be arriving in Anoka at 9:50am, St. Cloud Armory at 11:15am and Brainerd Armory at 12:50 this afternoon. There will be another route of buses heading to Pine City, Cloquet, Duluth, Hibbing and Bloomington this morning. More details at the National Guard website. Family and friends will be able to welcome home their soldiers at the respected armories. Another wave of soldiers is expected to be returning to Minnesota in the coming days.

--Italian officials announced early Tuesday, that two of the bodies recovered from the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship in March have been formally identified as an American couple from White Bear Lake. Italian officials say the bodies of Barbara and Gerald Heil were among five recovered from the ship last month. At least 30 people were killed when the Costa Concordia capsized off the Italian island of Giglio after hitting rocks on January 13.

--A 55-year-old Pine River man was injured Monday morning just before 10 in a 2 vehicle accident due to slushy conditions at Highway 371 and Woida Road in Baxter. Gary Sexton was treated at the Brainerd hospital. The other driver, 55-year-old Rory Coit of Deerwood and Sexton’s passenger were not injured.

--The Little Falls Knowledge Bowl team competed at the state knowledge bowl meet recently at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd. On April 12 and 13th the 48 teams competed in one written and five oral rounds of a total of 285 questions. The Little Falls team finished the meet with a total of 85 points, Brainerd did the best for the region with totals of 103.5 for their White team and 103 for their blue team but of all the central-Minnesota teams to make the state, all failed to place in the Class A and AA state meet.

ELECTION NEWS
--Mitt Romney is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for President later this year but he is not the most popular GOP candidate in Minnesota. Texas Congressman Ron Paul swept the 3rd, 5th and 6th Congressional District Convention and landed nine state delegates at the National Convention in Tampa, Florida. Rick Santorum, who recently dropped out of the race, picked up 2 delegates from District 7 and Paul picked up the other one. The four remaining districts, including District 8 where Morrison County remains, will choose their delegates and alternates this weekend. Back in February, Santorum won the Minnesota Caucus with Paul 2nd and Romney finishing third. But since then, Romney has picked up enough momentum to be the front-runner at the convention.

SPORTS
TWINS= Yankees pound Twins 8-3 last night. Twins and Yankees continue series with New York tonight 5:35 pregame on Q92 WYRQ.

“Hot Hits” tonight and Thurs, “Kings Ransom” Fri at West Side Bar

Tuesday- April 17th, 2012

NEWS
--215 members of the 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry 1st Brigade Combat Team returned to Minnesota on Sunday morning. The returning soldiers came from Mississippi where they were demobilized for a week. Before that they were on deployment to Kuwait. This is the first wave of soldiers returning from overseas which will continue through the end of the month. The soldiers were bused to a number of bases and armories Sunday including St. Cloud and Brainerd.

--The DFL Party Saturday endorsed hotel magnate Jim Graves as their candidate in the District 6 Congressional race in November. Graves was named the candidate on the first ballot over Stillwater businessman Brian McGoldrick and Anne Nolan of St. Cloud. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann also received her Republican Party’s endorsement Saturday for a 4th time to seek re-election.

--Today is Tax Day. Yes usually April 15th but with the 15th on a Sunday and the 16th a Federal Holiday in Washington D.C. of Emancipation Day, you have until midnight tonight to get your income taxes filed and mailed out, or you face a penalty from IRS.

--Todd County reported 2 accidents Friday both near Staples. Around 3:50pm, Leslie Killian of Staples struck a vehicle driven by Autumn Worley of rural Staples on 277th Avenue at 490th Street in Staples then around 4:30pm Jesse Eisel of Staples collided with Melissa Waskosky of Browerville on Highway 210 near Staples. In both cases, no drivers or passengers from accidents had to be hospitalized.

--A clean-up day for residents living outside city limits but within Little Falls Township will be Saturday from 8am to noon at the Little Falls Town Hall. The collection is intended for residentially generated items only. Anyone with questions on which items can be collected free of charge should call Adrian at 632-5297 or Chuck at 632-2627.

--Three people were hurt Sunday in a single vehicle crash on Highway 29 near Perham in Otter Tail County. The State Patrol said the vehicle missed a stop sign left the road and struck the ditch. 69-year-old Fred Carter of Nebraska, his wife 60-year-old Loralee Carter of Nebraska and 91-year-old Floyd Estlick of Perham were all taken to the Wadena Hospital for treatment of injuries. The Carters were released from the hospital by Sunday afternoon. The patrol stated, Estlick had more serious but still non-life threatening injuries.

--Saturday is being declared Cold Water Awareness Day in Minnesota. Governor Mark Dayton declared the day to inform the public about the dangers of sudden cold water immersion and the deadly effects of cold water shock. Experts say even with the warm March and warmer temps still at times in April, the water is still dangerously cold and can quickly cause hypothermia that can lead to drowning.

--Severe Weather Awareness Week continues with today designated for Weather Alerts and Warnings that are heard on radio and television when severe weather is imminent to the surrounding area. Also this is Wildfire Awareness Week, though most of the state has seen wildfires since early March due to the dry and warm conditions, and as the week arrives, the state got soaked with much needed moisture on Sunday with some areas receiving 1.25 to 1.75 inches of rain and even accumulating snow in portions of the state early Monday. As of Monday morning the fire danger rating has dropped to a medium to low risk over most of the state and there are still a number of burning restrictions over northern Minnesota.

--Staff of 8th District Congressman Chip Cravaack will be at the Milaca City Hall on Friday at 2pm to hear from constituents.

--Todd County reported a 2 vehicle accident Monday morning on County Road 7 south of Staples. A Jeep SUV lost control around 8:45am and struck a vehicle broadside driven by Ryan Kuklok of rural Cushing. David Deyoung of Staples was the driver in the other vehicle. Deyoung was taken to an area hospital and treated for minor injuries. Kuklok was driving a pickup owned by Anderson Brothers Construction of Brainerd when he swerved to avoid Deyoung’s vehicle causing a broadside instead of a head-on collision on the county road, and he was not hurt in the accident.

--The Minnesota State Patrol has released more information about that crash on Highway 10 Sunday near the 10/15 split north of St. Cloud around 6:15pm. 58-year-old Steven Applen of Anoka lost control on the rain soaked highway and struck the guardrail. One of the passengers, 58-year-old Mary Rausch of Coon Rapids was taken to St. Cloud Hospital and listed in critical condition. Applen and his 8-year-old daughter Kylie were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

--A ceremony to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Staples North/South Corridor with Railroad Overpass Project will take place Friday at 2 p.m. at the site of the project in Stapes. Many dignitaries including Congressman Collin Peterson will be on hand. The project will construct a two-lane north/south collector roadway and a bridge over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and U.S. Highway 10 in Staples. Construction began on the project yesterday and is expected to be completed by November.

--A Clearwater man was critically hurt Saturday when his motorcycle left Highway 24 northwest of Annandale, hit a mailbox and slid into the ditch rolling several times. 52-year-old Brian Larson was airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center and listed in critical condition. The accident happened around 11pm and the State Patrol reported that alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.

--Police are investigating a robbery at Central Campus Books which is the bookstore at St. Cloud State University. Around 2:30pm Sunday a man entered the store and demanded cash. He fled westbound on 11th Street South. The clerk was not injured in the robbery. The suspect is described as a black man, 6’3 to 6’5, about 200-225 pounds, wearing a black or blue hoodie, ski mask, black knit gloves and black pants. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to contact the St. Cloud police department at 320-251-1200.

SPORTS
TWINS= Justin Morneau was back at first base and must of liked it as he homered and had 2 RBIs, Joe Mauer cracked 3 hits and the Twins beat the Yankees 7-3 last night in the Bronx. Same two teams again tonight with a 5:35pm pregame on Q92 WYRQ.

TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1629= horses were first imported into the U.S. near Boston.
IN 1810= Lewis Norton patented pineapple-cheese.
IN 1933= the phrase “Call for Phillip Morris” first uttered on radio.

“Hot Hits” Wed and Thurs, meat raffle on Friday at West Side Bar.

Monday- April 16th, 2012
NEWS
--Morrison County Deputies arrested 43 year old Nancy Leona Meyer of rural Pierz last Thursday, for conspiracy to commit 1st degree murder. According to Morrison County Sheriff Michel Wetzel, Meyer was arrested after his office received information that she had been attempting to hire a hit man to kill her ex-husband. Investigating deputies determined that Meyer had in fact solicited help from another individual and had even discussed payment for assistance in carrying out the murder. Meyer was transported to the Morrison County Jail after her arrest and is being held pending the preparation of a formal complaint. According to Sheriff Wetzel no further details are available as the investigation has not been fully completed.

--This is Severe Weather Awareness Week. Each day this week will be designated to a certain aspect of severe weather conditions in the state. Today is severe storms, lightning and winds. In past years lightning has killed and injured more people than any other summer weather threat. On Thursday there will be tornado drills across the state one at 1:45 for businesses and schools to work out safety plans in case of a tornado then again at 6:55pm which is based for 2nd shift workers and families to work out a safety plan. Jeff Jelinski of the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office spoke on Little Falls Radio last week and stated the best thing to remember is to be prepared when severe weather strikes and keep safety first in all aspects.

--The Morrison County Sheriffs Office in the past week responded to the siphoning of gas from a vehicle in Randall, a theft of an ATV in Pierz, a pasture fire in Pierz on Easter Sunday morning, and mailboxes vandalized or damaged in Little Falls.

--The Department of Natural Resources reported last week that actually 8 buildings were reported burned in the over 1,600 acre fire in the Nimrod area of Wadena County. At first it was 2 destroyed and 3 others damaged but recent reports stated that an additional 3 structures were lost to the fire. Most of the structures were associated with the mobile home residence and attached garage that were destroyed from the fire. The 3 other recently announced buildings were outbuildings from the one residence. DNR forestry along with Wadena, Sebeka, Verndale, Staples, Menahga firefighters and sheriff’s deputies helped with the fire efforts and as of Friday morning were all going to take shifts to monitor the area incase of any rising hot spots using a hand-held heat sensing device to monitor any of the area that were still smoldering as of late Thursday. Even with word of more structures damaged, there have been no injuries.

--Brainerd police is investigating the death of a 5 year old boy at his home on Easter Sunday. Brainerd police would not elaborate on any of the investigation only that the boy was found unresponsive on Sunday and the body was taken to Ramsey County for an autopsy of the official cause of death and that they were awaiting the results.

--The flu season is not over yet in Minnesota. During the first 10 days of April, there were two deaths, nearly 40 hospitalizations and also four schools and 3 nursing homes reported outbreaks. The State Health Department says the flu season technically runs from October to May but it is very rare to reach past April on a regular year. Flu shots are still available but it is best to contact your local doctor first.

--Fire destroyed a barn in the western Stearns County town of Brooten Thursday night. Fire crews were called to the residence owned by Marcia Hallerman around 7pm and found the barn engulfed in flames. The cause is under investigation. There were no injuries.

--The Internal Revenue Service seeks civic-minded volunteers to serve on the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP), a federal advisory committee that listens to taxpayers, identifies key issues, and makes recommendations for improving IRS service. The TAP is seeking members or alternates in more than two dozen locations, including the Midwest states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Applications for the TAP will be accepted through April 27, 2012. To be a member of the TAP you must be a U.S. citizen, current with your federal tax obligations, able to commit 300 to 500 hours during the year and able to pass an FBI criminal background check. New TAP members will serve a three-year term starting in December 2012. If you’re chosen as an alternate member, you’ll be considered to fill any vacancies that open in your area during the next three years. Applications are available online at www.improveirs.org.

--The Minnesota Director of the Air National Guard, Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III announced the 148th Fighter Wing was selected as the 2012 Air Force Association Outstanding Air National Guard Flying Unit. This is the third time the 148th has been selected for this award which is given to the overall best Air National Guard flying unit. The 148th previously earned this award in 2006 and 2009. Members of the 148th will travel to Washington, D.C. in September for the formal presentation of this prestigious award.

--A Rice man faces 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to placing a cell phone in a restroom at Crossroads Center in St. Cloud to photograph unsuspected users of the facility. 25-year-old Joshua LaValle pled guilty to one-felony and four gross misdemeanors and will face sentencing at a later date of jail time and up to 9 years possible probation for this incident and an unrelated drug charge.

SPORTS
TWINS= Texas gets a 3 game sweep over the Twins from the weekend and now Twins open a 4 game series on the road against the New York Yankees tonight, 5:35pm pregame on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BAB= Cathedral at Little Falls Thursday at 5pm on AM960 KLTF

TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1941= Bob Feller pitched the first opening day no-hit perfect game as the Cleveland Indians beat Chicago 1-0.
IN 1947= Bernard Baruch coined the phrase “Cold War” for the recent conflict with the United States and the U.S.S.R.
IN 1962= Walter Cronkite took over as the full time evening anchor for the CBS Evening News, he would hold this post until 1981.

Enjoy lunch and stick around for Happy Hour today at West Side Bar.

Friday- April 13th, 2012

NEWS
--The 2012 MSCA Summer Beef Tour will be hosted by the Mississippi Valley Cattlemen’s Association on July 9th and 10th in Little Falls. For information on the 2 day event in Little Falls go to www.mnsca.org.

--The Todd County Citizens Against Drugs Coalition will be hosting a prescription drug take back at three locations on Saturday, April 28th. The events will be held at Lakewood Health System in Staples, Centra-Care Health System in Long Prairie and the Eagle Valley Clinic in Eagle Bend. Pharmacists will be assisting with these events along with law enforcement from the county and each of the respected cities where the take back will take place. Anyone with questions about the events should call Todd County at 320-732-2157. The Little Falls Police station is another drop-off site for unused prescriptions any weekday between 8:00am-4:30pm no questions asked.

--A Long Prairie man was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 10 years probation after he was convicted of stalking the Todd County Attorney last spring. 63-year-old Earl Thom was spotted at least 14 times outside County Attorney Chuck Rasmussen's home during the time that the attorney was prosecuting a case against Thom. Governor Mark Dayton signed a bill earlier this week that allows Minnesota county attorneys the right to have firearms while on duty.

--The Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services has ruled in favor of a Crow Wing County deputy getting his job back after being terminated last year by the sheriff’s office for reasons of insubordination. The sheriff’s office stated that the deputy was terminated after a culmination of several performance issues. After going through the 37 page arbitration document, Mediation Services ruled in favor of the deputy receiving his job back. By Minnesota Data privacy laws regarding public employees the deputy’s name was not released.

--A Cass County man has been found guilty of making terroristic threats against a Cass County sheriff’s deputy. 31-year-old Robert Jones has an extensive criminal history that includes assaulting a peace officer and making terroristic threats, attorneys are asking for the stiffer penalty for the conviction of Jones. Guidelines show that the sentence can range from 29 to 39 months in prison. The judge has set a sentencing date for May 21st in Cass County Court.

--A double-wide trailer was lost to fire Tuesday in Pequot Lakes. Around 8pm firefighters were called to the Wilderness Resort Villas where the trailer type cabin was engulfed in flames. The cause of the fire was ruled electrical with the trailer being a total loss. Nisswa and Ideal fire departments assisted in the blaze. There were no injuries.

--Two cats were lost in a fire Tuesday in Crosby. Firefighters responded around 2:15pm to 202 Second Street in Crosby to a kitchen fire. The fire had spread into the attic area of the house by the time firefighters arrived. The small house was nearly a total loss from the fire which is believed to have started when one of the cats jumped on the stove and started one of the burners. The Deerwood Fire Department assisted in the fire. No people were injured.

--Camp Ripley will be hosting a Retirement/Breakfast Informational Seminar next Wednesday at the new Armory cafeteria at Camp Ripley. Breakfast at 8:30 with the seminar beginning at 9am; Personnel from St. Paul will be speaking on a variety of topics, including Tri-Care Insurance, Retirement Services, and others on what to do, when one's spouses passes. Local personnel from the VA of Morrison County and our Veterans Cemetery will give updates and concerns. For more information contact Tony Wenzel at 749-2428.

--On Wednesday, Morrison County deputies, Little Falls police officers, and agents of the Central MN Violent Offender Task Force, executed a search warrant at 1200 3rd Ave NE in Little Falls after receiving information that the occupants of that dwelling had been selling controlled substances to both adults and juveniles. During the search investigators found several items consistent with the use and sale of controlled substances. Specifically, investigators located a lock box containing marijuana that weighed approximately 455 grams, and was individually packaged for resale. According to Sheriff Wetzel, investigators arrested 54-year old Charles Edward Frey, and 53-Tamara Lea Frey, both of Little Falls. Both were transported to the Morrison County Jail where they were held pending preparation of formal charges by the Morrison County Attorney’s Office.

--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday night at 7:30 at City Hall. Prior to that there will be a planning commission meeting at 6pm and a work session at 6:30 at City Hall. Last Monday, a recommendation on the sign ordinance was assembled at a HPC, Planning Commission and City Council Meeting. At the work session the ordinance proposal will be discussed to see if it ready to be sent to the League of Minnesota Cities for review and then it would be brought back to the city for a public hearing and then a vote from the City Council. Again the next process on this will be at Monday’s work session at 6:30.

--The City of Big Lake is paying Police Chief Sean Rifenberick, $160,000 to resign. Chief Rifenberick’s settlement includes a $143,000 payment for his full salary until June, unused vacation time and full retirement benefits. He was placed on paid leave last month. The chief has been accused of misconduct in the past but the city has not revealed the specific reason for the settlement. Rifenberick has agreed not to sue the City of Big Lake as part of the agreement.

SPORTS
TWINS= The Twins battled back from a one time 6-0 deficit yesterday against the Angels to eventually win 10-9. Josh Willingham hit his 4th homerun this season. Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer also each hit a home run in the same game for the first time in their career. Texas visits the Twins (2-4) for a 3 game series, first pitch scheduled for 7:10 tonight, 12:10 on Saturday afternoon and Sunday at 1:10pm on Q92 WYRQ.

TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1796= reports state the first elephant from Bengal, India arrived in the United States on this date in New York City.
IN 1916= first hybrid seed corn went on sale in Ohio.
IN 1943= on the 200th anniversary of his birth, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial was dedicated in Washington D.C.

North Star Entertainment tonight, “Hot Hits” Saturday at WS Bar

Thursday- April 12th, 2012
NEWS
--The City of Little Falls in order to make water line repairs will shut the water off today from 8-12 on 1st Avenue SW from 4th to 6th St.

--On April 25th, Pierz Healy High School will be the location for a mock car crash and emergency drill for several local emergency medical services. All 9th through 12th graders will attend the program organized by SADD. Sirens, lights, and helicopters will be used during the event. They remind motorists and residents that this is only a MOCK car crash and practice drill.

--April has been designated Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Recently the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office spoke about the upswing of distracted driving around the area. Distracted driving is considering anytime the driver’s concentration is marred by another item such as passengers, food, drink, cell phones or other items. April 19th, the State Patrol and number of agencies will be conducting enforcement of distracted driving in the entire state and especially those drivers under the age of 18. State Troopers will also be watching for drivers who are texting which is illegal to do in the state of Minnesota. Distracted driving has resulted in 20% of annual crashes and on average that would be 70 deaths and 350 injuries.

--Todd County was alerted to mailboxes being vandalized around the Long Prairie area occurring Sunday and Monday. The damage was found by the rural mail carrier on the mail route Monday. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office.

--Businessman Jim Graves is the latest candidate to vie for Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s 6th District Congressional seat. Graves announced he will seek the DFL endorsement this Saturday at the DFL endorsement convention. The St. Cloud native and CEO of Graves Hospitality says the 6th District deserves someone who will create jobs, livable-wage jobs because the Middle Class is the future of our country. Two other DFL candidates are vying for the endorsement this weekend to challenge Bachmann in November.

--St. John’s University announced their 13th President will be Michael Hemesath. For the first time in 155 years the President will not be from the ranks of their religious leaders. Instead, Hemesath is a current economics professor at Carleton College in Northfield and will begin his duties at St. John’s on July 1st. The current President, Reverend Robert Koopman has served there since 2009. He plans to retire as University President but plans to return then to the faculty.

--Sauk Rapids city offices announced they will be closed April 27th so employees can move into the new government center. No city services will be available in Sauk Rapids on that Friday. Construction of the new building is nearing completion with technology companies installing utilities and equipment this week. Operations at the new center will begin at 8am on April 30th. Anyone with questions can be directed to 320-258-5300. Work started last July on the new building.

--A 6-year-old St. Cloud boy was injured when his bicycle collided with a vehicle in a parking lot Tuesday in St. Cloud. Markel Jennings was taken to St. Cloud Hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle was not injured. No citations given.

--The average cost of gas is actually dropping a bit in the state. The average as of Wednesday morning was $3.74 a gallon which is down from $.3.83 last week. The National average is nearly $4 a gallon, and analysts feel oil prices will continue to rise through spring.

--Little Falls Community Middle School will be holding parent-teacher conferences Monday from 4-7pm at the middle school commons.

--Crews announced early Wednesday that they have gained control of a wildfire near Nimrod in Wadena County. Firefighters will remain on the scene through rest of the week mopping up any remaining hot spots of smoke and some areas of burning peat. 1,600 acres were burned in the fire as well as a mobile home and garage destroyed. Firefighters are grateful for all the volunteer work in helping get control of the fire and are thankful no one was injured in the blaze.

--An Eden Valley woman was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder in the February shooting death of a Brooklyn Center man. 39-year-old, Rochelle Lynn Inselman was charged in Hennepin County District Court for killing Bret Struck on February 12th. Struck died from several gunshot wounds. The court complaint indicates that Inselman had hacked Struck’s Facebook account and sent defamatory e-mails to his family and friends. She also is accused of stealing his identity and using it to apply for four or five credit cards. The complaint indicates that Struck was killed by a 9mm gun, and it references a man who said he sold a 9mm handgun to a “Rochelle” from St. Cloud in January.

--With less than a week until the April 17 tax deadline, the IRS is reminding anyone running out of time that they can easily get an automatic six-month tax-filing extension. The easiest and quickest way to get an extension is online through the Free File link on IRS.gov. In a matter of minutes, anyone, regardless of income, can use this free service to electronically request an automatic extension using Form 4868. Filing this form gives taxpayers until Oct. 15 to file a return. This is an extension of time to file; not an extension of time to pay. In Minnesota, about 143,600 taxpayers are expected to request an extension of time to file their tax return.

NATIONAL NEWS
--Citing personal and professional reasons Tuesday, Republican Rick Santorum has suspended his run for President of the United States. Santorum was running 2nd to Mitt Romney in the latest primaries.

SPORTS
TWINS= Twins win 6-5 over Angels last night. New Twins Josh Willingham hit homerun #3 and Jamie Carroll and Chris Parmelee came through with key hits late for the Twins first win. Twins and Angels wrap up their series at 11:40am today then the Twins open a 3 game series Friday at vs. Texas. All games on Q92 WYRQ.

TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1833= Charles Gaylor patented the fireproof safe.
IN 1861= Confederate troops attack Fort Sumter, in South Carolina, this would be considered the beginning of the U.S. Civil War.
IN 1892= first voting machines were used in Lockport, New York.
IN 1954= Bill Haley and the Comets recorded their hit “Rock Around the Clock” the song would be considered the first Rock n Roll hit.

“Hot Hits” tonight, North Star Entertainment Friday at West Side Bar

Wednesday- April 11th, 2012

NEWS
--A Royalton man was critically injured early Tuesday morning when the vehicle he was driving struck a utility pole on Driftwood Street in Royalton just after 1am. 23-year-old Brent Beto sustained head injuries and was listed in critical condition at St. Cloud Hospital. His passenger, 22-year-old Cody Hayes was treated at the scene.

--Benton County arrested 2 men for an alleged burglary at a storage facility in Sauk Rapids Township. A deputy on routine patrol Saturday morning noticed two individuals at Aspen Storage around 3am and dressed all in black. When the patrol attempted to make contact with them the 2 men fled on foot. The deputy was able to catch one of the men, 37-year-old Robert Newport of St. Cloud, where a backpack was found to have a number burglary tools. Additional deputies searched the area with a canine unit and were able to locate the 2nd man, 51-year-old Tony Lukaswicz, where he was found with methamphetamine on his person. Both have been transported to the Benton County Jail awaiting formal charges in the case.

--Minnesota National Guard Facilities Management Office and Donlar Construction have broken ground on an Unmanned Aerial Systems facility at Camp Ripley. The facility will provide Camp Ripley the ability to train larger and more sophisticated Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Cost of the facility is approximated $3,900,000 and is expected to be completed in October. Individuals with questions can call the Camp Ripley Public Affairs Office at (320) 616-3122.

--Spring truck weight restrictions on state highways in Minnesota's north and north-central frost zones will end Thursday. After that, spring load restrictions will have ended in all 6 Minnesota frost zones.

--Crow Wing County authorities responded to a number of accidents over the past week. Two people were hurt Monday around 1pm on Highway 210 and Knollwood Drive in Baxter. 82-year-old Elsie Good of Brainerd and 41-year-old Joseph Moriarty of Baxter sustained injuries when their vehicles collided and both were treated at the Brainerd hospital. A 32-year-old Pequot Lakes woman was injured in a 2 vehicle accident Friday on Highway 371 and Excelsior Road. Laura Beireis was treated at Brainerd hospital. The other driver was not hurt. A 20-year-old Brainerd man was hurt when his vehicle crashed on Town Hall Street in Barrows. Nicholas Stuart was taken to the hospital in Brainerd and treated for his injuries. A 50-year-old Brainerd man was struck by a vehicle Sunday night while walking on Graydon Avenue around 7pm. Steven Pelkey was treated and released for his injuries. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.

--Little Falls Police in recent days arrested a 30-year-old man after his vehicle struck a tree early Sunday in 8th Street Northeast. The man was arrested for being under the influence. Police arrested an 18-year-old Saturday morning after a report of a disturbance on 7th Avenue Southeast. There were reports of a theft of a bike on 8th Street Northwest and outdoor yard lights on 12th Street Southwest and damage to a rear window of a pickup where someone had fired shots at it on 11th Street Northeast.

--The cooler conditions have not stopped the problems with wildfires in the area. Around 1,600 acres has now burned in the Nimrod fire in Wadena County, and now concerns of hypothermia and frozen hoses have arose. 84 volunteers and firefighters are monitoring the fire. Crow Wing County had 2 reports of grass fires in the past week in Deerwood that scorched acreage and another grass fire reported in Garrison. In both cases no injuries and no structures damaged.

--In order to make repairs, the city of Little Falls will be shutting off water Thursday on 1st Avenue Southwest from 4th Street to 6th Street from 8am to noon. Question can be directed to City Hall 616-5500.

--Members of the Morrison County board will attend a Trails Committee meeting tonight at 6 at the County Shop in Little Falls.

--The joint meeting for the HPC, planning commission, and city council occurred on Monday night. The sign issue was again discussed and progress was made. Currently the plan calls for a draft to be presented at the work session for the Little Falls City Council on Monday, April 16th. Both the HPC and planning commission will be invited to attend this Monday’s meeting to give a “thumbs up or thumbs down” on a draft of the Little Falls city sign ordinance. If approved, then it will be sent to the League of Minnesota Cities for review with a future public hearing planned after that. Eventually, it will be decided on by a vote from the Little Falls city council.

--A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned today at Camp Ripley. The ceremony is to open the Emergency Management Training Center. Whether it’s severe weather, hazardous material spills or an act of terrorism, highly- trained responders can make a difference between life and death. Until the opening of the EMTC, Minnesota public safety personnel and first responders had to travel out-of-state for highly sophisticated training. Now they can stay in state which will save time and travel costs. The EMTC will be used to host regular Integrated Emergency Management Courses and HSEM staff will use it for multiple-day trainings and state certification courses. The ceremony is today from 1-3pm at Camp Ripley.

--Motorists traveling on Interstate 94 between Sauk Centre and St. Cloud may see smoke from prescribed burns until mid-May. Other areas scheduled for the burns include portions of Lake Wobegon Trail and the St. Cloud Travel Information Center. The burns are conducted by fully trained crews and will improve native grasses and wildflowers that have been planted in the ditches. It will also help with weed control. Traffic should not be affected and all highways will remain open during the burns. The burns are scheduled during optimal weather conditions to ensure safety and effectiveness.

--A Melrose native has been killed in a plane crash in California. Twenty-four-year-old David Ostendorf died in the crash near the Monterey Airport on Sunday. The pilot, a 32-year-old man from Yuma, Arizona was also killed. Witnesses say they saw the plane doing aerobatic rolling maneuvers just before it fell out of the sky. Ostendorf was a 2006 graduate of Melrose High School, and a 2010 graduate of St. Cloud State University.

FUNERAL NOTICE
--Aloysius Sobiech, age 91 of North Prairie
--Mark Gerard Nouis, age 53 of Holdingford

Tuesday- April 10th, 2012
NEWS
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet this morning at 9am at the government center. The board will have proclamations of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, National Crime Victims Rights Week, Child Abuse Prevention Month and Distraction Free Driving Day. They will hear reports from the sheriff, social services, public health, planning and zoning and the auditor at the meeting this morning at 9am.

--The Little Falls School Board meets tonight at 6pm at the Morrison County Government Center boardroom in Little Falls. Agenda items include recognition, appreciations and donations to be given or accepted, name a date change for the retiree reception and awards presentation, get the latest report of from the superintendent, approve the 2011-14 MSEA Specialists contract agreement, receive a budget presentation for 2012-13 and approve the 2012-13 Capital Expenditures Budget. The meeting again is tonight at 6pm.

--Stearns County deputies responded to an ATV crash on Schuman Lake Road early Sunday morning. The ATV appeared to be heading westbound when the driver 19 year old Daniel Nierenhausen of Avon lost control in a curve, slid across the dirt road and struck a tree. According to the report Nierenhausen was treated at the scene and was being transported to North Memorial Medical Center but died in route. The accident is under investigation.

--Dozens of residents were evacuated Sunday from a grassfire in Nimrod in Wadena County. Over 1,400 acres had burned as of Monday but cooler temperatures helped stop the fire’s progress by late Sunday night but not before an attached garage and a mobile home were destroyed, and 4 other structures were damaged but there have been no injuries. Helicopters dropped water on many of the structures Sunday to protect them from the massive fire. The National Guard was called in to assist with the fire suppression. The DNR stated Monday afternoon that 80% of the fire has been contained and they were continuing to mop up anything smoking within 150 feet of the perimeter of the fire’s origin.

--A car crashed late Friday afternoon into the ditch on Highway 371 at Excelsior Road. The driver apparently lost consciousness due to a medical emergency. Brainerd firefighters were called to extinguish a small fire around the scene. The driver was taken to the Brainerd hospital. The name of the driver or their condition was not released.

--Milk producers in Minnesota and Wisconsin showed a better February than last year. Wisconsin dairy farmers harvested 2.2 billion pounds of milk in February about a 4% improvement over last year. Minnesota produced 714 million pounds, a 2% increase compared to 2011. The clear-cut #1 producer was California which had over 3.5-billion pounds in February. California ranks #1 in milk production followed by Wisconsin and New York, Minnesota now ranks 7th.

--Authorities used Facebook, law enforcement records from agencies and cell phone tracking in pursuing and arresting Angelina O’Mara on murder charges of her ex-husband last year in Sauk Rapids and her ex-boyfriend in Wisconsin. Details about the search were released Friday during a hearing in Benton County District Court in Foley. O’Mara was hitchhiking in South Dakota last November when she was arrested just days after James O’Mara and Michael Pies were found dead at 2 different locations. O’Mara’s attorney has filed a motion to have the trial moved out of Benton County due to the publicity of the trial in the area. The judge is taking the motion under advisement and will make a decision on the case in the next 90 days.

--The Todd County Sheriff’s Office responded to a woman who was injured when a tree fell on her Sunday near Burtrum. Around 11:30am, fire and rescue crews found the woman about a mile off of State Highway 28 in a wooded area. She was transported to Sauk Centre Hospital then airlifted to St. Cloud. The woman’s name and condition were not released.

--The Cold Spring-Richmond Police Chief Phil Jones was injured in a motorcycle crash Friday afternoon on Highway 23 in Cold Spring. Stearns County deputies and the State Patrol responded to the crash around 4:30pm when Jones swerved to avoid a turkey that had flown into his path and slid into the concrete divider. Jones was taken to St. Cloud Hospital and listed Saturday in stable condition.

--A Monticello man was seriously injured Saturday when he was struck by a vehicle while he was running across the westbound lanes of Interstate 94 near Albertville. 41-year-old Alejandro Merino was driving east on I-94 when his vehicle crashed into the median. The State Patrol stated that Merino then ran across the Interstate and was struck by a vehicle driven 60-year-old Rhonda Hiler of Maple Lake. Merino was taken to an area hospital, his condition was not released. The patrol stated that alcohol was detected on Merino. The accident happened around 10:30pm Saturday night.

--Stearns County received a report of a driver found unresponsive inside a semi-tractor at the westbound Avon rest stop in Avon Township. Upon arrival, 59-year-old Nick Tufaro of Georgia was found in the driver’s seat of the semi-tractor and pronounced dead. His body has been transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office for the cause of death. Foul play is not suspected.

ENTERTAINMENT
--Legendary television newscaster, Mike Wallace, died Saturday in Connecticut. He was 93. Wallace was a commercial pitchman, game show host and did other work in the early days of television before taking the helm at 60 Minutes which began with Wallace in 1968.

--Popular painter Thomas Kinkade died Friday in California at age 54.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Jesse and Shannon Peterson of Pierz, a girl born on April 7th.

SPORTS
TWINS= Angels spoil the Twins home opener winning 5-1 Monday. Twins have an unusual day off today in the middle of their series with the Angels and resume play tomorrow night.
NBA= Phoenix beat the T-Wolves last night 114-90. The Wolves are at 25-33 with 8 games left in the season and will not make playoffs.

“Hot Hits” Wednesday and Thurs and great lunches at West Side Bar

Monday- April 9th, 2012

NEWS
--On Thursday morning the personnel committee recommended the Little Falls School use a search firm “School Exec Connect” to help with the search for superintendent. A calendar has been introduced but no dates have been finalized. The school has opted to advertise the job within the state but due to costs elected not to advertise the job across state lines. It appears the last day applications will be accepted would be May 18th. From the initial calendar the school would have up to 6 candidates to interview for the position on May 23rd and May 24th. After that the school would limit it down to the final three candidates for full day interviews at the end of May. Then a final selection would be made for the new Little Falls school superintendant by the end of May or very early June. These dates are not finalized, only the proposed date’s from Thursday’s meeting.

--The Little Falls School Board meets Tuesday at 6pm at the Morrison County Government Center. Agenda items include recognition and appreciation to the VFW and American Legion Honor Guard and Grade One at the Library (GOAL). The board will receive a number of donations, discuss a change of date for Retiree Reception and Awards Presentation, take action on a two year agreement with the city of Little Falls for the Liaison Officer, approval of the MSEA specialists contract agreement, approval of the 2012-13 Capital expenditures budget and a resolution discontinuing and reducing educational programs and positions.

--This year’s state road construction projects include work on the Interstate Highway 694 and U.S. Highway 10 interchange in the Twin Cities, and final work on an Interstate Highway 35 bridge in Duluth. The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced its road construction program for 2012 which includes 316 projects around the state, and will cost $1.1 billion. Other projects lined up include work on the U.S. Highway 52 Lafayette Bridge in St. Paul and resurfacing portions of U.S. Highway 10 between Clear Lake and Big Lake. Projects also include improving safety at railroad crossings and fixing runways at regional airports. There will be 2 projects in Morrison County the first in July will be Highway 115 in Randall to Highway 371 and to Morrison County Road 48, a seal coat and road surfacing project that will last into August with daytime lane closures and flaggers on Highway 115. The other project is resurface project along Highways 10, 27, 238 and 371 through Motley, Little Falls, Upsala, Brainerd and many other areas. The $1.1 million dollar project will include daytime lane closures, reduced speeds, flaggers and night work in Little Falls starting in August and lasting into September. Department of Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel says this year’s program will help the economy by supporting thousands of jobs. A complete list of projects and construction dates can be found at: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/construction.

--A sixth grader from Cuyuna Range Elementary School in Crosby was suspended last week after bringing a pellet gun to school in his backpack. The Crosby-Ironton Superintendent Jamie Skjeveland said they do not know why the boy brought the pellet gun to school and that it never left the boy’s backpack, but the school followed it’s weapon policy to a T which includes an out-of-school suspension. Skjeveland stated the school did notify the police department but felt there was not immediate threat so the school was not put on lock down. By their weapons policy the matter has been turned over to the Crow Wing County Attorney’s office to review for any charges.

--The Little Falls City Council, Planning and Zoning Committee and Historic Preservation Committee will meet at 5pm today at City Hall to discuss the updated city ordinances revisions. Anyone interested is also invited to attend. Anyone with questions can call 616-5500.

--The grandparents of 3-year-old Jack Larsen of Merrifield who was killed nearly 3 years ago walking with his siblings when he was struck by a vehicle passing on the shoulder of the road is pleading for whoever took a wood carving dedicated to the grandson back to them. Donna Larsen stated it was a 300-pound statue of an elephant sitting on a log stump with the engraving of ‘Jack’ written on it. The carving had been placed in front of their garage near Merrifield but went missing last week. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.

--A three judge panel with the Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled that a lawsuit claim against the City of Brainerd by the owners of the Colonywood Apartment complex concerning the validity project is without merit. A District Court Judge last Thursday ruled in favor of the city and dismissed the lawsuit all together.

--The man who led police on a chase a year ago that ended when he crashed into a vehicle in St. Cloud that killed two people has pleaded in Stearns County District Court. 23-year-old Timothy ‘Ricky’ Giles pled guilty to fleeing police resulting in death and fleeing police resulting in substantial bodily harm when Giles was speeding from a Waite Park police officer and a county deputy at speeds over 70 mph when he went the wrong way on 2nd Street South and crashed into a vehicle at Waite Avenue. The driver, 30-year-old Timothy Casanova of Starbuck was killed in the crash. The passenger, 22-year-old Megan Thomsen of Glenwood was injured and also 32 weeks pregnant at the time. Her baby was born by emergency C-section but had limited brain activity and died days later. Giles had turned down an earlier plea agreement of a 30 year prison sentence but later agreed to a plea that caps his sentence at 36 years. The judge announced he will sentence Giles within in the next 45 days.

--The Todd County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a burglary near Grey Eagle on Wednesday night. Authorities stated the burglary occurred around 8pm along Amigo Trail in Birchdale Township. Electronics and money was stolen from a residence and outbuilding.

DEATH NOTICES
--Raymond Peter Woitalla, age 80 of Harding.
--Everett ‘Archie’ Johannes, age 57 of Sobieski.

Friday- April 6th, 2012
NEWS
--Another prescribed burn will be conducted today at Camp Ripley the fires from the past days covered thousands of acres. The burns are to help with aerial helicopters and artillery training later this spring from sparking fires if dry vegetation continues to be the norm.

--Another busy week with grass fires as the fire danger remains high across 90% of Minnesota, including central Minnesota and also the entire state of Wisconsin. Dozens of fires sparked Tuesday and Wednesday with dry conditions, including 5 alone in the Brainerd lakes area, including one near the Congregational Church, other grass fires were reported on Red River Drive, Sixth Avenue Northeast and Laurel Street all between Tuesday and Wednesday morning. They also responded to a shed fire on Chisholm Road where 14 firefighters, a tanker and a helicopter were needed. The shed was a total loss. In all the other cases it was acreage that was burned with no structured damaged and no injuries in any of the reports. A grass fire in northwest St. Cloud Wednesday night caused a power outage for over 280 Stearns Electric customers. Firefighters battled the fire which caused a power pole malfunction around 7pm. No one was injured and power was restored to the area by 9pm that night. The DNR stated that the northern two-thirds of the state have the highest risk of wildfires at this time and very high risks of fire from St. Cloud to the northern Twin Cities suburbs due to warm temperatures and dry vegetation and the high risk is expected through the weekend.

--A minivan and semi-truck collided Wednesday night around 7pm south of Foley at the intersection of Highways 95 and 25. The State Patrol reported injuries at the scene but there was no report if anyone was hospitalized. The highways were partially blocked for about an hour while the vehicles were cleared. The State Patrol is also reminding motorists that the intersection is part of the Highway 23 detour as Highway 23 between Highway 95 and 25 is currently closed until December 21st so the road can be expanded to 4 lanes.

--The Crow Wing County Triad which consists of law enforcement, senior facilities and programs and community members will be hosting a free opportunity on learning how to handle situations of self defense, motor vehicle safety, household safety and ways to red flag scams and ways of not being a victim of them. The event is April 19th, 1-3pm at the Heartwood in Crosby. For information call the Baxter Police Department at 218-855-5090.

--An accident Wednesday morning knocked out power in the Brainerd area. Todd Peglow of Brainerd collided with a power pole on Jackson Street in front of the Brainerd Civic Center. The accident occurred around 9:15 and power was out for a portion of the city until early afternoon. The driver, Peglow, did not need medical attention.

--A barn north of Remer was lost to fire early Tuesday morning. Firefighters were called out around 3:45 to Serendipity Farm owned by Christine Desmond. The barn contained goats, 7 babies and a mother goat were lost in the blaze. Desmond and her husband were not hurt and thanked their dogs barking for alerting them of the fire. Firefighters did save 2 other buildings in the line of the fire, the cause is still under investigation and there were no injuries.

--Due to Good Friday today, the offices of Little Falls Radio will be closing at 1pm. Many other offices and businesses may have special hours later today for many to attend Good Friday services. Schools are off today and many are also off Monday for the Easter Break. You can listen to a Good Friday Service today at noon on AM960 KLTF.

--Nearly 3,000 Minnesota National Guard soldiers are scheduled to return to Minnesota over the next three weeks after serving in Afghanistan and Kuwait since last year. More than 2,500 soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, are arriving at Camp Shelby, Mississippi within days coming home from the largest deployment in Minnesota history since World War II. The expected return date for the soldiers to return to Minnesota has not officially been released though it is believed to be the final week of April. Soldiers will be returning to Albert Lea, Alexandria, Anoka, Austin, Bloomington, Brainerd, Camp Ripley, Cloquet, Duluth, Hibbing, Hutchinson, Jackson, Luverne, Mankato, New Ulm, Owatonna, Pine City, Redwood Falls, Rochester, Sauk Centre, St. Cloud, St. Peter and Winona.

--The State House of Representatives in St. Paul has voted in favor to move the primary elections from June to August starting in 2013. The vote passed by 1 vote Wednesday 66-65 to move the primary elections as part of a broader election bill. The State Senate still has to go along with the bill. Governor Mark Dayton stated he would be in favor to the change if the bill reaches his desk.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--An official autopsy report this week stated that singer Whitney Houston died from accidental drowning in a bathtub at a Beverly Hills Hotel. Houston was found with cocaine in her system and also she showed signed of heart disease. Houston died February 11th.

SPORTS
TWINS= The Twins open the regular season today at Baltimore, pregame starts at 1:35pm today, 5:35pm Saturday and 12:05pm on Sunday, catch all the games live on Q92 WYRQ. Also the Twins announced that a Kent Hrbek bronze statue will be unveiled at Target Field on April 14th. Hrbek’s statue will be near Gate 14, the number that Hrbek wore with the Twins during is career (1981-1994).
COL HK= Boston College routs Gophers 6-1 in Frozen Four semis.

TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1896= the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens.
IN 1909= Commodore Robert Peary and Matthew Henson became the first two men to reach the North Pole.
IN 1916= Charlie Chaplin signed a lucrative deal with Mutual Film.
IN 1931= ‘Little Orphan Annie’ debuted on NBC Radio.
IN 1958= Arnold Palmer won his 1st Masters to get a green jacket.
IN 1987= Sugar Ray Leonard won a 2-1 decision over Marvelous Marvin Hagler, the bout was ruled a surprising upset.

“In the Fields” tonight, “Hot Hits” Saturday at West Side Bar

Thursday- April 5th, 2012

NEWS
--In November Minnesotans will be asked if the state constitution should be amended to require all voters to present a valid photo ID to vote and to require the state to provide free ID to eligible voters. After hours of debate the Minnesota Senate passed the bill by a 35-29 margin. Along with this measure voters in November will decide on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in the state.

--A U.S. Marine from Todd County was shot and killed while visiting friends in Texas. 24-year-old Aaron Talley, of Clarissa, was shot Sunday at a residence in San Antonio. Police say the shooting was apparently accidental. Talley’s friend was handling a shotgun, pointed it at Talley and it discharged. A woman was also at the home at the time of the shooting. Talley was a corrections specialist at the Naval Consolidated Brig assigned to the headquarters squadron at Miramar, California. San Antonio police are investigating.

--Camp Ripley announced they are planning a busy summer of training. Post Commander Col. Scott St. Sauver announced that Drones, helicopters, tanks, military thunder and others will be training over the summer months. The Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Minnesota Department of Transportation will also still be using the facility for their training methods. Lt. Blake St. Sauver was a guest recently on the KLTF Party Line and stated that they are expected a surge of soldiers coming back to Minnesota sometime later this spring or early summer and will update the area when the soldiers return home. Col. St. Sauver reported that they are still deploying soldiers throughout the year but not to the level they have been doing. The post commander also made it clear that the mission of Camp Ripley is to train soldiers to succeed and survive, and that a number of upgrades have been done to the facility to make the mission a success.

--Camp Ripley will be conducting controlled burns again today and tomorrow. Area residents can expect to see smoke and smell the fires. The fires are started, monitored and controlled in accordance with the DNR and the Camp Ripley Fire Department.

--65-year-old Judith Johnson of Brainerd was charged Tuesday with assault with a dangerous weapon, fleeing a peace officer and two counts of domestic assault after leading a half-dozen law enforcement officers through a chase last Friday through Crow Wing County. Johnson is accused of ramming her estranged husband with her vehicle and leaving the scene. A Crow Wing County deputy spotted Johnson’s vehicle on Wise Road north of Brainerd and a chase ensued along Wise Road, to Highway 210 and then down Highway 25 where the vehicle left the road and struck the ditch. Johnson faces over 10 years in prison if convicted on charges. The judge set bail at $10,000 with conditions and her next court date has been scheduled for May 9th in Brainerd.

--The Minnesota Military Museum will conduct training for volunteers on April 28th from 9-4 at the Museum located at Camp Ripley. Individuals of all ages who have an interest in military history and would like to volunteer time at the museum this summer is encouraged to attend. Interested volunteers should e-mail or mail in an application which is available online at www.mnmilitarymuseum.org. Applications should be returned by April 25th. For more information call the museum at 616-6050.

--Little Falls Radio Offices will close Friday at 1pm for Good Friday. Normal office hours will resume Monday.

--The Little Falls School Board meets this morning at the high school to discuss how to conduct the search for the next superintendent.

--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office wants the public to know that April has been designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Morrison County Chief Deputy Tom Ploof stated that distracted driving was barely ever heard of when he started with the department in 1985, but now it is nearly 80% of crashes and 65% of near crashes with cell phones being the #1 culprit. Driving distractions also include fiddling with the radio and CD player, putting on make-up, vehicle controls, passengers, programming GPS systems, eating, smoking, and fatigue. Any time you don’t have two hands on the wheel and your focus on driving, you are driving distracted. Laws are slowly catching up with technology making it illegal to text while driving or parked in traffic and cell phone use is totally banned for school bus drivers. During this Distracted Driving Awareness month, Ploof and the Sheriff’s Office are asking each driver to eliminate distractions, keep two hands on the wheel, and your focus on driving. Sgt. Curt Mowers of the State Patrol on KLTF Party Line stated there will be a statewide enforcement watching for distracted drivers on April 19th.

--A transformer exploded Monday morning which knocked out power to some of eastern Crow Wing County. Firefighters responded around 10:15 to a grass fire on Highway 169 in Garrison. Though the fire was minor it did reach the transformer. Crow Wing Power was called in to handle the issue and power was restored by that afternoon.

--Two people were hurt Tuesday morning in a 3-vehicle crash in Brainerd. Police say the accident happened around 9:30am when two vehicles collided at the intersection of Laurel Street and 4th Street SW which then caused one of the vehicles to strike a 3rd vehicle. 55-year-old Timothy Wiswell of Crosby was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital and listed in critical condition. 22-year-old Dawn Kapsner of Baxter was treated and released at the Brainerd hospital. The driver of the 3rd vehicle was not injured. The accident is still under investigation through Brainerd police and the sheriff’s office.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Jim and Stacie Gross of Pierz, a baby boy born on April 4th.

DEATH NOTICES
--Sister Marcella Schuller, age 95 of Little Falls.
--Betty Trib, age 89 of Royalton.

SPORTS
HS BAB= Little Falls at Pierz today at 4:30pm on AM960 KLTF
HS SB= Little Falls at Pierz today at 4:30pm on Q92 WYRQ
COL HK= Gophers hockey team takes on Boston College at 7pm tonight in Tampa in the NCAA Frozen Four. Union College and Ferris State in the other semi, winners play Saturday in the title game.

“In the Fields” Friday, “Hot Hits” Saturday at West Side Bar

Wednesday- April 4th, 2012
NEWS
--Morrison County Geographic Information Systems Manager Chuck Forss announced he is seeking the Morrison County Board seat for District 1. Forss stated he is retiring from his current position later this year to seek the Commissioner’s seat currently held by incumbent Tom Wenzel. District 1 consists of a section of Little Falls, the cities of Randall, Motley and Cushing and the townships of Scandia Valley, Darling, Rosing and Green Prairie.

--Firefighters continue to be busy with the windy conditions from over the past days. Friday night, firefighters battled a grass fire near North Central Speedway in Barrows Township, it was reported a campfire had gotten out of hand, a garbage fire was reported on Front Street in Brainerd on Sunday, Staples firefighters battled a grass fire along the railroad tracks south of town on Saturday and Pequot Lakes firefighters battled a grass fire after a resident was burning leaves and the fire got away from him on Saturday. A reminder again from the DNR that burning restrictions around central Minnesota remain in effect with exceptions being those reporting controlled or prescribed burns such as Camp Ripley is recently doing.

--A 24-year-old man charged with first-degree aggravated robbery at the Staples Self Serve Station appeared Monday in Wadena County District Court. Joshua McKenna is accused of entering the service station, brandishing a handgun and demanding money. McKenna was arrested in North Dakota after a lead from Crookston police. The judge has set a jury trial date for McKenna on April 18th in Wadena.

--A Brainerd teacher has been selected as one of the 10 finalists for Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Dave Borash is an 11th and 12th grade social studies, geography and economics teacher at Brainerd High School. The announcement of Teacher of the Year will take place on May 6th at a banquet in Brooklyn Park.

--23-year-old Brandon Sannan who’s charged with 9 counts of attempted murder and one count of first degree arson appeared in Cass County Court recently. Cass County authorities informed the judge, Sannan told them he did intentionally set fire to a home shortly after midnight January 8th with knowledge that people were inside. All the people inside the home including 6 children escaped unharmed. Another hearing was set for April 30th.

--A Cass County judge set the next court date for 20-year-old Sheldon Smith of Red Lake who is charged with 2nd degree murder for the stabbing death of a Walker man back on March 21st. Smith is accused of stabbing the victim during an encounter between 2 groups of individuals in the Onigum Area. The victim died on route to a hospital. Smith’s next court hearing is set for April 30th in Walker.

--A 53-year-old man is dead after a garage fire near Hancock. The Stevens County sheriff's office was called to the fire on Old Highway 29 just after 7:00pm Sunday. Authorities say that Loren Becker was found inside the burning garage and pronounced dead. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

--The latest numbers show numerous counties in southeastern Minnesota ranked highest for health standards in the state where northeastern and southwestern parts of the state were near the bottom. The top 3 counties on health requirements were Steele, Carver and McLeod. Cass and Traverse are at the bottom. The rankings are on a number of criteria including environment and the economy. Rankings include Stearns at 33, Aitkin 36, Benton 55, Crow Wing 62, Todd 67, Mille Lacs 73, Morrison 78 and Wadena 80.

--On Monday the planning commission and historic preservation committee met to work on Draft #7 for the sign ordinance issue in Little Falls. Another meeting is scheduled for 5:00pm on Monday, April 9th with the HPC, planning commission, and city council. The hope is after Monday’s meeting the city will have a draft they can send to the League of Minnesota Cities for review and upon approval there will be a public hearing. After that the issue will ultimately be decided upon by a vote from the Little Falls City Council.

--The Little Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau has named Kristina Vonberge as their new director. Vonberge is coming off a short lived retirement after many years with the Minnesota National Guard and working at Camp Ripley. Vonberge plans to be proactive in working with the community to represent tourism for the city of Little Falls.

--The State Patrol says 6 people were injured in an accident on Interstate 94 near Alexandria Monday around 5:30pm in Douglas County. The six injured were teenagers all in one vehicle when it was attempting to pass a semi-tractor trailer and clipped the front of it causing the smaller vehicle to strike the ditch. One of the passengers, 17-year-old Zachary Fennessey of Prior Lake sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a Fargo Hospital. The other 5 teenagers, including the 18-year-old driver, who were all from Savage or Prior Lake, were treated for minor injuries. The driver of the semi and his passenger, who were from Manitoba were not injured.

--A Henning woman was injured when her vehicle left the roadway on Highway 29 near Parkers Prairie Monday afternoon. Around 1:30, 45-year-old Karla Rice reportedly fell asleep at the wheel causing her vehicle to strike the ditch. Rice was taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

--Upsala Schools will be dismissing at a noon today, and will have no school from Thursday April 5th through Tuesday, April 10th.

TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1914= first known moving picture was shown in New York City, the movie was called “The Perils of Pauline” starring Pearl White.
IN 1964= The Beatles held the top 5 songs on the charts on this date, Can’t Buy Me Love, Twist and Shout, She Loves You, I Want to Hold your Hand and Please Please Me. First time the same artist or group owned the top 5 songs at one time on the Billboard Charts.
IN 1984= after 25 years, Bob Bell retired as Bozo the Clown.

Meat Raffle on Friday, lunches served daily at the West Side Bar

Tuesday- April 3rd, 2012

NEWS
--A Little Falls man was arrested on domestic assault charges Thursday in St. Cloud. Police stated that 28-year-old Jeremy Schuman was arrested after a 35-year-old woman called police stating she had been assaulted. The victim showed signs of a struggle and told police that Schuman would not let her leave her residence. Schuman was jailed in Benton County and faces possible felony charges due to previous convictions for domestic assault.

--A 65-year old Brainerd woman led police on a high speed chase after fleeing an incident where she rammed her estranged husband’s vehicle with her car. Speeds exceeded 80mph Friday afternoon through Crow Wing County and at one time police say they had the woman clocked at speeds of 100mph or more. Sheriff Todd Dahl stated that at one time the suspect, Judith Johnson nearly T-boned a military vehicle. The chase started in Gilbert Lake Township then made its way along Wise Road to Highway 210, then onto Highway 25 where Johnson’s vehicle caught the shoulder of the road and struck the ditch around Thompson Road. Johnson was arrested on assault with a deadly weapon charges for ramming her estranged husband’s vehicle and fleeing police in a motor vehicle. Some of the squad cars involved sustained some damage but no one was injured.

--Arson is a possibility in a fire that did extensive damage to a warehouse on Clearwater Road in St. Cloud Saturday night. 20 firefighters battled the blaze in a building that contained mostly textbooks, stacked cardboard and some oil storage which made difficult conditions for firefighters at times. No one was in the warehouse at the time of the fire. St. Cloud Battalion Chief Jerry Raymond stated the fire was suspicious in nature and an investigation is ongoing to see if the fire was set intentionally.

--Minnesota corn and soybean farmers are preparing to seed fields even with concerns from a warm and dry March. Climatologists state that spring weather will be difficult to predict after an arid winter of little cold and snow. Reports show that many soil samples across the state show conditions 6 inches below the ground were exceptionally dry. The hope is that underground water will still be able to help sustain crops that are being planted over a month earlier than usual. Cooler weather is forecasted the rest of this week, but with windy and still mainly dry conditions the fire danger will also remain high.

--Political season is here and a number of endorsement conventions were held last weekend. The State Republican Party endorsed Lee Byberg to challenge DFL Congressman Collin Peterson in November, Peterson has held that seat in District 7 since 1990, Republicans also endorsed Jim Newberger as the GOP candidate in District 15B which will consist of parts of Benton and Sherburne counties including Foley, Rice, Becker and Clear Lake after the August 14th redistricting, at the same convention State Senator Dave Brown of Becker was endorsed for District 15, and Representative Sondra Erickson was endorsed for the redistricted 15A seat which will be around the Princeton area. At the endorsing convention in Aitkin on Saturday, the GOP endorsed Chris Kellett of Brainerd for House District 10A, Dale Lueck of Aitkin in District 10B, and Carrie Ruud of Breezy Point for Senate District 10, all GOP endorsements for the seats up for election in November. The DFL held endorsements over a week ago.

--Tick borne disease risk in Minnesota is very high in east-central and north central Minnesota including Morrison, Mille Lacs, Crow Wing, Cass and Aitkin counties. A reminder, to check yourself for ticks.

--A 37-year-old St. Cloud woman died after she was struck by a train just after midnight Sunday morning on St. Germain Street in St. Cloud. Sharleen Laitenen, according to police was breathing when they arrived at the scene and was taken to St. Cloud Hospital where she later died from her injuries. The death was ruled accidental.

--The Little Falls Lions has designated the Little Falls High School Key Club as the benefactor of their next Lions Rib Fest which is being held on Saturday, April 21st from 4 pm to 7:30 pm at the Little Falls Golf Course. The cost is $10 per ticket. The Key Club will be able to keep 100% of the tickets sold by their club. If they sell 110 tickets they will receive $1100 from the Lions. The Lions have done similar benefits for the other worthy organizations in the Little Falls area.

--Operation Military Kids has announced that it’s second annual Purple Up! Military Kids event is April 13th. The event is a nationwide effort to honor youth affected by military deployment of a family member. Operation Military Kids encourages everyone across the country to wear purple to show support for military children.

--Sartell police arrested a man Saturday morning when officers were called to a robbery in progress on Perimeter Drive. The suspect had broken a window but fled the scene when the homeowners turned the lights on around 12:30am. Officers were able to locate a vehicle that the homeowner saw leaving his residence. An 18-year-old was arrested and allegedly admitted to breaking into the home. The man’s name was not released only that he was taken to the Benton County Jail and awaits formal charges from the attorney’s office.

--The DNR said that March was a brutal month for wildfires in the state with the worst occurring in central Minnesota from the Brainerd Lakes Area west to Wadena then south through Todd and Morrison, down to St. Cloud and just north of the Twin Cities. Around 5,500 acres of land has burned to wildfires in March and still the fire danger is high in western, central and southern Minnesota with moderate risks of fire dangers in eastern Minnesota. Burning restrictions remain in effect for most of the state including all of central Minnesota.

SPORTS
NCAA= another title goes to the Kentucky Wildcats as they defeat Kansas 67-59 to win the 2012 NCAA Title. The women’s title game between Baylor and Notre Dame is tonight.
TWINS= Twins wrap up exhibition play today at noon against Tampa Bay. Hear the game live on Q92 WYRQ.

“In the Fields” Friday, “Hot Hits” Saturday at the West Side Bar.

Monday- April 2nd, 2012
NEWS
--A Stearns County judge has been assigned to hear the salary appeal from Morrison County Sheriff Michel Wetzel. Wetzel filed an appeal to the courts due to not receiving a salary increase by the Morrison County Board of Commissioners. Both Morrison County District Court Judges removed themselves from the case due to conflict of interest. Morrison County Administrator Deb Gruber stated that Wetzel did receive a 4% wage increase in 2011. A scheduling hearing is planned for this week.

--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office and numerous fire departments have been busy with grass and swamp fires from the high winds last week and mostly dry conditions. A fire reported Wednesday around 2pm on 130th Avenue west of Little Falls was due to a fire in a trash barrel that got out of hand. Bowlus firefighters and the DNR assisted. Wednesday night around 7pm the DNR assisted firefighters and deputies in extinguishing hay bales that were on fire near Hillman. Deputies assisted Pierz firefighters, the DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife that brought a tanker from Brainerd and a helicopter from Princeton Tuesday afternoon to a swamp fire on Hawthorne Road near Pierz that burned 225 acres. Back on March 25th a swamp fire was reported in Hillman. In all cases no reports of any structures damaged, though the Pierz fire Tuesday threatened some outbuildings on the land, also no report of any injuries.

--Little Falls Police are investigating an incident last Monday night where someone shot a pellet gun at cars and one of the pellets broke a car window of a vehicle on 11th Street Southeast. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 616-5570. Police Chief Greg Schirmers wants to remind residents also that with more reports of drop sites for prescription medications being reported around the state that you can dispose of unused prescription medication at the police department in their lobby anonymously between 8am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday. For information call 616-5570.

--The Morrison County Commissioners will meet at 8:30am on Tuesday, April 3rd in the Morrison County Government Center. On the agenda are reports from Public Health, Social Services, a discussion on the Boundary Commission, and the Septic Inspection program.

--On Wednesday night, Long Prairie Police responded to a robbery at the Long Prairie Oil Company. Upon investigation police learned that three vehicles stopped at the business and inquired about getting a bad tire changed on white Cadillac Escalade with a Wisconsin license plate. The other two vehicles were described as a gray Jaguar and a light green Dodge Caravan with a sliding door window broken out. The suspects were described a 3 black males and two black females with possibly some children. They suspects distracted the lone employee having him take off the tire and put a different size tire back on the vehicle which would not work on the vehicle. When the suspects left the employee discovered that all cash and checks from the register were gone. Anyone with information on the robbery or the vehicles in questions should call police at 320-732-2156.

--Staff from the offices of Congressman Chip Cravaack will be at the Pierz City Hall Thursday from 10am to 11:30am to hear from constituents. Those with questions or concerns for the Congressman should address them to his staff Thursday morning in Pierz.

--The Little Falls School Board will meet Thursday at 7:30at the high school to make a recommendation on starting a search for the school superintendent following Curt Tryggestad’s contract ending June 30th.

--The Little Falls Chamber of Commerce has announced that their April employee of the month is Ray Stumpf from the Little Falls Schools. Ray has been the Industrial Technology Teacher at the Little Falls Community Middle School for 13 years. When not working, Ray enjoys swimming, bicycling, traveling, sightseeing, working with youth at church and in the community. He is a member of the Lone Eagle Auto Club and First Lutheran Church. Congratulations to the employee of the month Ray Stumpf.

--The Little Falls City Council meets tonight 7:30 at City Hall. Agenda items include a letting on spring leaf and brush collection, approve a phosphorus management plan with the wastewater treatment facility, adopt a resolution on the management agreement with the Friends of Linden Hill and accept a petition for water annexation in Belle Prairie.

--The Minnesota Supreme Court Friday appointed Long Prairie attorney Timothy M. Churchwell as chair of the Seventh District Bar Association’s Ethics Committee. The Seventh District includes Becker, Benton, Clay, Douglas, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd and Wadena counties. District Ethics Committees are established in each of the 21 district bar associations to investigate complaints of unethical conduct against Minnesota lawyers.

--The Internal Revenue Service has expanded its “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers. Under the new Fresh Start provisions certain taxpayers who have been unemployed for 30 days or longer will be able to avoid failure-to-pay penalties for six months. In addition, the IRS is doubling the dollar threshold for taxpayers eligible for Installment Agreements to help more people qualify for the program. For more information log on to www.IRS.gov

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Curtis Meyer and Elizabeth Theisen of Pierz, a girl born March 29th
--Jason VanScoik and Sondra Steinert of Little Falls, a girl on 3-29

WEATHER
TODAY= showers and storms in afternoon, high near 60.
TONIGHT= showers and storms likely, low around 40.
TUESDAY= showers early, then mostly sunny, high 55, low 30.
WEDNESDAY= sunny, high near 60, low around 35.

SPORTS
COL BB= The Final Four Championship is tonight for the men between Kentucky and Kansas and tomorrow night is the NCAA Women’s Championship between Notre Dame and Baylor.
SCSU= St. Cloud State hockey goalie Mike Lee announced Thursday that he singed a 3-year entry-level deal with the Phoenix Coyotes and will forego his senior year at St. Cloud to play for the NHL franchise.

TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1956= “Edge of Night” and “As the World Turns” debuts on CBS.
IN 1978= “Dallas” debuted on CBS TV starring Larry Hagman as JR.
IN 1987= interstate highways raised the speed limit to 65mph.